This easy and delicious Pesto Pasta Salad combines arugula pesto with fresh veggies and pasta!
In case you guys missed this one. . this recipe was buried at the end of my Lindsay Olives’ Ultimate Lunchbox post. . I must share this one again because it’s freaking delicious.
These days, whenever I have leftover basil, arugula or kale, I find myself making pesto. My food processor has never worked for me so much. Seriously. And this pasta salad is not just for the summer time. No way. This Pesto Pasta Salad can be enjoyed all year round. Well, ok maybe not in the winter but depends on where you live and what the weather is like, right? I make a big batch of this and munch on this for lunch, a mid-day snack and sometimes, dinner too. And my kid loves it too. This pasta salad would also make a perfect potluck or picnic dish!
The next time you have some basil and arugula laying around, you need to make this. I promise you will love it.
I hope you enjoy!
Pesto Pasta Salad
Ingredients
For the arugula pesto
- 2 cups packed fresh baby arugula I love Organic Girl
- 1 cup packed fresh basil leaves
- 2 cloves garlic
- ¼ cup pine nuts + walnuts I like to do a blend
- 1-1½ cups good quality extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ – 1 cup freshly grated or chunks of Parmigiano-Reggiano
- Kosher salt to taste
For the pasta salad
- ½ lb Rotini pasta
- 2 medium cucumbers; peeled and chopped
- ½ red bell pepper; chopped
- ½ yellow bell pepper; chopped
- ½ orange bell pepper; chopped
- ½ cup grape or cherry tomatoes
- 1 stalk celery; chopped
- ½ cup black olives; chopped
- ½ cup green olives; chopped
- 1-2 cups pesto recipe above; mix in amount to your liking + more if desired
- ¼ cup pine nuts
- fresh arugula to plate
- very light drizzle of extra virgin olive oil optional
Instructions
For the arugula pesto
- Combine the arugula, basil, garlic, and nuts in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. With the processor running, slowly pour the olive oil (I used about a cup) into the bowl through the feed tube and process until the pesto is thoroughly combined. Add the Parmigiano-Reggiano and pulse until well combined. Season with salt.
For the pasta salad
- Cook pasta according to package instructions and cook to al dente. Rinse and allow to cool slightly.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together the cooled pasta with all of the chopped veggies. Mix in the pesto until everything is well coated, sprinkle on the pine nuts and mix again gently. Serve on a bed of fresh baby arugula. Hit with a very light dash of extra virgin olive oil if desired. Enjoy!
More summer pesto ideas!
- Easy Spinach Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwiches – Lemons & Basil
- Caprese Pesto Pizza – Hip Foodie Mom
- Zucchini Noodles with Pesto – Two Peas & Their Pod
What a fabulous lunch, and so pretty to look at too! I’m getting ready to make a big batch of pesto- our basil plant is waist high! Gotta harvest it all before first frost 😀
So, we just ate dinner and then I saw this post and now I’m hungry again. Yum!!! I’m adding this to my dinner menu for the week. Scrumptious.
Awh, thanks Joy! Let me know how you like it!
Looks so pretty Alice! I make a spinach arugula pesto too and I’m with you, arugula pesto is so delicious. I love this salad and all the yummy veggies. So colorful too. I especially love the olives. I’m an olive lover big time!
What a great recipe with Lindsay Olives! I always have pesto with spaghetti and mostly with basil. Now I’m craving your creative pesto salad for lunch today…it seems like the perfect lunch to take to-go. Luckily my kids love pesto as much as I do:)
Yes for pesto, for pine nuts, for arugula, for pasta salad… can you tell I LOVE this recipe Alice?! I do throw whatever is lying around in my fridge and call it a a pesto. It works every time.