Lauren Kelly Nutrition

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Italian Pesto Pasta Salad

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With Memorial Day weekend here and summer right around the corner, I wanted to make a delicious pasta salad recipe.  I love pasta salads in the summer and this one is not only simple to prepare, but it’s also amazing!

italian-pasta-saladIs it me or did Memorial Day weekend arrive so fast?  Believe me, I am certainly not going to miss the absolute worst winter we had, but it did seem to come up fast.   We are going to a friend’s house this weekend and they asked us to bring a pasta salad.  I love pasta salad (I mean, who doesn’t love pasta salad??) but I realized I usually make quinoa salad or couscous salad.  It was time for me to create a pasta salad.  And why not add my all-time-favorite?  PESTO!  And while I am not advising to drink pesto, I seriously could.  All different types.  I think I’ve made them all. 🙂

Italian Pest Pasta Salad - Lauren Kelly Nutrition
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Italian Pesto Pasta Salad

Servings 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 pound pasta of choice I used farfalle
  • 3/4 cup sun dried tomatoes chopped
  • 3/4 cup artichokes chopped
  • 1 cup chickpeas rinsed and drained
  • 1 batch of pesto
  • 2 tablespoons capers
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil chopped
  • 1/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese optional

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta according to instructions.
  2. Add tomatoes, artichokes and chickpeas. Stir well to combine.
  3. Add pesto and mix well again. Toss in pesto and capers and stir to combine.
  4. Refrigerate for at least an hour or even overnight.
  5. Serve with fresh basil and Parmesan cheese if desired.

Now if I could only get my kids to like pesto.  They wouldn’t even eat it on pizza??  I am not giving up.  I will continue to offer it in hopes that they will one day they will like it.  And selfishly, make my life a little easier.  Then I remember how much pickier I was when I was younger (if you can even imagine) and it gives me hope.  One day my kids WILL like pesto.  And asparagus.  And maybe even quinoa (wishful thinking!)

Italian Pest Pasta Salad - Lauren Kelly Nutrition

 

Here are some more pesto recipes you might like, I mean, love:

Avocado Tomato Mozzarella Panini

Pesto Arugula Yellow Tomato Pizza with Fresh Basil

Gnocchi Spinach and Tomatoes in Pesto Sauce

Sauteed vegetables with Pumpkin Seed Pesto

What are you planning on making this weekend? This salad would go perfectly with any grilled meat, or even grilled veggies. 😉  I hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

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Comments

  1. Love love love everything in this salad. Cold pasta salads are my favorite summer food, and you have definitely got a good one going on here.. The only change I’d make is swapping out parm for feta…I’m totally making this! Pinned!

    Reply

    • So funny Shaina, I don’t love cheese but my hubby said he would like feta too 🙂 Have a great weekend! XO

      Reply

  2. We are going up north (here in Michigan) to Cadillac (family HS graduation) and then onto Manistee to visit with some old friends at their cabin house.

    Have a fun and safe Memorial Day holiday and thanks for your wonderful recipes!

    Reply

  3. HI .. this Italian Pesto salad sounds delicious … I’m thinking of making it this weekend. How was your trip to Miami… ?
    Yes, you and Karen were very picky eaters. Love, Aunt grace

    Reply

  8. I’m sure your kids will be kicking themselves someday for having missed out on the awesomeness that is your pesto pasta salad! I love all the extra goodies you’ve thrown in there… it’s never occurred to me to put pesto and capers in the same dish, but now that I see it here, it’s a totally obvious pairing. 🙂

    Reply

  10. I have some basil growing in the back yard right now just dying to be in this recipe. Wait. Plants don’t have feelings so it’s ok to say that, right?

    Reply

  14. This salad looks absolutely delicious! I was planting some basils today, and was really craving pasta! I will have to make this soon. 🙂

    Reply

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