Pesto Pasta Salad

• For 4 people
• Preparation time : 30 minutes
• Difficulty (0 to 5) : 2

Ingredients

• Pesto Sauce
  • Fresh Basil Leaves : 2 packed
  • Garlic Cloves : 2
  • Pine Nuts : 1/4 cup
  • Parmesan Cheese : 1/2 cup grated
  • Olive Oil : 1/2 cup
  • Salt : 1/2 tsp
  • Black Pepper : 1/4 tsp
• Pasta Salad
  • Fusilli Pasta : 8
  • Cherry Tomatoes : 1 halved
  • Mozzarella Cheese : 1 cubed
  • Black Olives : 1/2 cup sliced
  • Red Onion : 1/4 cup finely chopped
  • Fresh Basil Leaves : 1/4 cup chopped
  • Pesto Sauce :

The AI that generated this image will never know the flavor of this delicious recipe. But you can :-)

Steps

• Prepare the Pesto Sauce
• Crush the garlic cloves and add them to a food processor.
• Add the basil leaves, pine nuts, grated Parmesan cheese, salt, and black pepper to the food processor.
• Pulse the ingredients until they are well combined.
• Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while the food processor is running until the sauce reaches a smooth consistency.
• Cook the Pasta
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Add the fusilli pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente.
• Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process.
• Assemble the Pasta Salad
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, black olives, red onion, and chopped basil leaves.
• Add the prepared pesto sauce to the bowl and toss everything together until the ingredients are evenly coated.
• Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
• Serve the pesto pasta salad chilled or at room temperature.

Tips

• You can make the pesto sauce ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to a week.
• Feel free to add other vegetables or proteins to the pasta salad, such as grilled chicken or roasted vegetables.

Information

• Pesto pasta salad is a versatile dish that can be served as a main course or as a side dish.
• This recipe is vegetarian-friendly, but you can also add cooked shrimp or grilled chicken for added protein.