Here’s a wonderfully unique idea for a pesto pasta salad recipe that’s both easy and quick to prepare. This recipe features a chilled pasta salad tossed with tomatoes, mozzarella, and pine nuts. It’s the perfect salad for summer or as a side dish at a barbecue.
About the Best pesto pasta salad recipe
My pesto pasta salad recipe is perfect when you’re short on time. Despite its simplicity and the few ingredients required, each bite is a delight.
Especially in summer, this cold salad is refreshing and yet satisfying due to the spaghetti. You can serve this Pasta salad as a main dish or as a delicious side.
As you might already notice, this salad is incredibly versatile and very quick to make.
Ingredients for Cold pesto pasta salad recipe
I don’t usually buy pre-made sauces, but today I wanted to share a super quick recipeespecially since in summer with the heat, there are times when I don’t want to spend a long time in the kitchen. Pesto rosso is simply a tomato sauce made from sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, basil, pepper, and parmesan. It’s very delicious.
Here are the ingredients you need for the cold salad with pesto:
- Spaghetti
- Pesto: my favorite is pesto rosso*. But you can also choose any other variant of pesto.
- Tomatoes: Small cherry tomatoes are the best choice for a salad. They are sweet, fruity, and crunchy.
- Mozzarella: the quickest way is to use mini mozzarella balls. Of course, it’s just as good with a ball of mozzarella cut into small pieces or pinched. This is an optional ingredient.
- Salad of your choice
- Pine nuts: you can also use chopped cashews.
- Garlic: Add a finely chopped clove of garlic. This gives the salad an extra something and enhances the flavor.
How to make this quick pesto pasta salad recipe
This spaghetti recipe can be prepared in just 15 minutes.
First, cook the spaghetti until al dente, then rinse them under cold water to cool them down quickly. While the pasta is cooking, chop the other ingredients into small pieces and toast the pine nuts until they are golden brown. Finally, simply mix all the ingredients together with the pesto.
It’s really quick, right? You’ll find the complete instructions along with the ingredients listed at the bottom of the recipe.
If you like my pasta salad, you’ll also love this other pasta salad recipe:
I look forward to your feedback on the comments. Save the recipe on Pinterest.
Easy pasta salad recipe with pesto
Ingredients
- 250 grams of spaghetti
- 190 grams of pesto rosso one jar
- 100 grams of small tomatoes
- 1 ball of mozzarella
- 100 grams of salad greens
- 50 grams of pine nuts
- 1 clove of garlic
- Instructions:
Instructions
- Cook the Spaghetti: Cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions.
- Prepare the Vegetables and Cheese: While the spaghetti is cooking, cut the small tomatoes into halves and slice the mozzarella into small pieces. Wash the salad thoroughly, dry them, and chop into bite-sized pieces. Peel the garlic clove.
- Toast the Pine Nuts: Toast the pine nuts in a dry non-stick skillet over medium heat. Keep them moving constantly in the pan to prevent burning. Toast until they are golden brown.
- Mixing: Once the spaghetti is cooked, drain and rinse with cold water for a few seconds. Transfer the spaghetti to a large salad bowl. Add the pesto rosso and pressed garlic, and mix well.
- Combine All Ingredients: Add the toasted pine nuts, chopped tomatoes, mozzarella, and salad greens to the bowl. Toss everything together until well combined.
- Serve: The spaghetti salad can be served immediately or stored in the refrigerator, covered well, to chill.
