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Italian Pesto Pasta Salad

May 23, 2014 by lauren.kelly 28 Comments

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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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Signature

Filed Under: Pasta, Recipes, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetarian Tagged With: barbecue, meatless, pasta salad, side dish, simple pasta salad, summer salad, vegetarian



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Comments

  1. Shaina says

    May 23, 2014 at 12:36 pm

    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
    • lauren says

      May 23, 2014 at 1:43 pm

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

      Reply
  2. Donna says

    May 23, 2014 at 12:48 pm

    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
    • lauren says

      May 23, 2014 at 1:42 pm

      Thank you Donna! Have a wonderful weekend too. The cabin house sounds so fun!

      Reply
  3. grace kubrin says

    May 23, 2014 at 1:21 pm

    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
    • lauren says

      May 23, 2014 at 1:42 pm

      Hi Aunt Grace! Miami was a blast! I hope you like the salad and have a great weekend! XO

      Reply
  4. Kim (Feed Me, Seymour) says

    May 23, 2014 at 1:41 pm

    ok, I definitely need to make this. It looks amazing!

    Reply
  5. Angie says

    May 23, 2014 at 1:56 pm

    I love how fresh and nutritious this is! Looks so good!

    Reply
    • lauren says

      May 23, 2014 at 5:01 pm

      Thank you Angie! Have a great weekend! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Martha @ A Family Feast says

    May 23, 2014 at 2:28 pm

    Looks delicious Lauren!

    Reply
    • lauren says

      May 23, 2014 at 5:01 pm

      Thank you Martha! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Melissa from HungryFoodLove.com says

    May 23, 2014 at 4:31 pm

    Easy and delicious dinner? Check! with this great option. Thanks!

    Reply
    • lauren says

      May 23, 2014 at 5:01 pm

      Thanks for stopping by Melissa!

      Reply
  8. Isabelle @ Crumb says

    May 23, 2014 at 4:32 pm

    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
    • lauren says

      May 23, 2014 at 5:00 pm

      I wasn’t sure about the capers and pesto together Isabelle, but I LOVED IT! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Stephanie @ Back For Seconds says

    May 23, 2014 at 6:34 pm

    This sounds terrific – and I love artichokes 🙂

    Reply
    • lauren says

      May 23, 2014 at 7:01 pm

      Me too Stephanie 🙂 Thank you!

      Reply
  10. Marly says

    May 23, 2014 at 10:05 pm

    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
    • lauren says

      May 24, 2014 at 1:24 am

      Nope, it’s all good Marly 🙂

      Reply
  11. Lana @ Never Enough Thyme says

    May 24, 2014 at 1:24 am

    That is one seriously delicious looking pasta salad!

    Reply
    • lauren says

      May 24, 2014 at 1:29 am

      Thank you Lana!!

      Reply
  12. Sarah Caron (Sarah's Cucina Bella) says

    May 24, 2014 at 2:17 am

    Oh, my! This looks amazing. I love, love, love pesto!

    Reply
    • lauren says

      May 24, 2014 at 12:20 pm

      Thanks so much Sarah!

      Reply
  13. kellie @ The Suburban Soapbox says

    May 25, 2014 at 12:35 am

    I could live on cold pasta salads, it’s my favorite dish to take to a picnic. In fact, I have one tomorrow and this is coming with me….thanks!!!

    Reply
    • lauren says

      May 25, 2014 at 1:12 am

      Thank you Kellie! I hope you like it! 🙂

      Reply
  14. Shinee says

    May 25, 2014 at 3:43 am

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

    Reply
    • lauren.kelly says

      May 25, 2014 at 12:49 pm

      Thank you Shinee! I hope you like it 🙂

      Reply
  15. Nutmeg Nanny says

    May 27, 2014 at 1:08 pm

    I love pesto! This pasta salad looks perfect for summer.

    Reply

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