Green Pesto Pasta Salad (Printable)

Vibrant pasta salad with aromatic basil pesto, sweet peas, cherry tomatoes, and Parmesan. Light, refreshing, and ready in 25 minutes.

# Components:

→ Pasta

01 - 10.5 oz short pasta (penne, fusilli, or farfalle)

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 cup frozen peas
03 - 1 1/3 cups cherry tomatoes, halved

→ Pesto

04 - 4 tablespoons basil pesto

→ Dairy

05 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

→ Seasoning

06 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
07 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Garnish

08 - Fresh basil leaves

# Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
02 - Add frozen peas to the pot during the last 2 minutes of pasta cooking time.
03 - Drain pasta and peas thoroughly, then rinse under cold water to cool completely.
04 - In a large bowl, combine cooled pasta and peas with halved cherry tomatoes.
05 - Add basil pesto and olive oil, tossing gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
06 - Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper according to preference.
07 - Toss in grated Parmesan cheese if desired and toss again to combine.
08 - Top with fresh basil leaves and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes better after sitting for an hour, so you can make it ahead and actually enjoy your gathering.
  • The pesto clings to every piece of pasta, which means no sad dry bites at the bottom of the bowl.
  • You can serve it cold or at room temperature without losing any flavor.
  • It uses pantry staples and comes together faster than ordering takeout.
02 -
  • Do not skip rinsing the pasta under cold water, or the heat will wilt the basil in the pesto and turn everything drab instead of vibrant.
  • If the salad looks dry after chilling, stir in another tablespoon of olive oil and a splash of pasta water to bring it back to life.
  • Taste your pesto before adding salt, because some brands are already very salty and you can easily overdo it.
03 -
  • Use a high quality pesto, because it is the star here and a bland one will make the whole dish fall flat.
  • Do not overcook the pasta, because it will continue to soften slightly as it sits in the fridge.
  • If you are making this ahead, hold back a little pesto and stir it in just before serving for a fresh pop of flavor.
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