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Pesto Pasta Salad

This pesto pasta salad is loaded up with fresh mozzarella, and juicy tomatoes, coated with an easy-to-make homemade pesto sauce made with fresh basil and garlic. It's so fresh and delicious! 

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Chill
2 hrs
Total Time
2 hrs 20 mins
Servings: 6
Calories: 588 kcal
Course: Side Dish , Lunch , Dinner
Cuisine: Italian-American Fussion

Ingredients

Pesto Sauce
  • 2 cups fresh basil (just the leaves, stems removed)
  • 2 tablespoons pine nuts (can substitute with walnuts if needed)
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan
Pasta Salad
  • 1 pound fusilli pasta (or pasta noodle of choice)
  • prepared pesto sauce
  • 2 cups diced cherry tomatoes
  • 1 cup kalamata olives (pitted and sliced)
  • 7 ounces fresh mozzarella (you can find the ball-shaped mozzarella in the deli section of most markets)

Instructions

Pesto Sauce
    Cup of Yum
  1. Add the basil, pine nuts, garlic, and parmesan to a food processor. Pulse until mostly mixed and basil and pine nuts have been broken down into small pieces.
  2. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while pulsing the processor until all oil is added and the sauce is mixed.
Pasta Salad
  1. Boil the pasta noodles until cooked and softened. Drain and rinse the noodles with cold water to help cool them.
  2. Add the pesto sauce and stir until the noodles are fully coated. Add the diced tomatoes and mozzarella. Fold to combine.
  3. Cover and chill for about 2 hours prior to serving. If the noodles have soaked up too much sauce add more pesto sauce as needed.
  4. Serve chilled and enjoy!

Notes

  • Originally Posted on June 14, 2017
  • Updated on June 6, 2022

Nutrition Information

Calories 588kcal (29%) Carbohydrates 62g (21%) Protein 21g (42%) Fat 29g (45%) Saturated Fat 8g (40%) Polyunsaturated Fat 4g Monounsaturated Fat 15g Cholesterol 33mg (11%) Sodium 715mg (30%) Potassium 374mg (11%) Fiber 4g (16%) Sugar 4g (8%) Vitamin A 1050IU (21%) Vitamin C 13mg (14%) Calcium 290mg (29%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 588

% Daily Value*

Calories 588kcal 29%
Carbohydrates 62g 21%
Protein 21g 42%
Fat 29g 45%
Saturated Fat 8g 40%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g 24%
Monounsaturated Fat 15g 75%
Cholesterol 33mg 11%
Sodium 715mg 30%
Potassium 374mg 8%
Fiber 4g 16%
Sugar 4g 8%
Vitamin A 1050IU 21%
Vitamin C 13mg 14%
Calcium 290mg 29%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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