Summer Pesto Pasta Salad

Pesto Pasta Salad in a large white serving bowl on a rustic white table.

Pasta salads have long been the first choice for lunches, picnics and BBQ parties. Easy to make in advance, packed with lots of different vegetables and delicious to eat in any alfresco situation, our Summer Pesto Pasta features summer season favourites: fresh basil, green courgettes and juicy cherry tomatoes! Dressed with pesto instead of a more traditional mayonnaise-based salad dressing, this pesto pasta salad with mozzarella is sure to impress both as a vegetarian lunch or as a side dish at your next garden party!

5 from 5 votes

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Course Lunch, Side Dish

Cuisine Italian, Summer

Servings -4 for lunch or 6-8 as a side dish

Calories 697 kcal

Equipment

1 large baking tray

Ingredients

300 g pasta uncooked dried pasta weight
2 courgettes approx 400g, cut into 1cm cubes
1 tablespoon olive oil
200 g cherry tomatoes halved
125 g mozzarella ball torn into bite-size pieces
100 g baby spinach
15 g basil leaves only
150 g pesto ideally freshly made
20 g pinenuts toasted

Instructions

Cook your pasta following the package instructions. Once cooked, run cold water through the pasta to cool it down and remove the starch (it will prevent the pasta from sticking together). Stir in a tablespoon of olive oil and set the pasta aside.
In the meantime, preheat the oven to 220°C Fan. Line a large baking tray with baking parchment.
In a large bowl mix the courgette cubes with a tablespoon of olive oil, a pinch of salt and pepper. Spread the courgette on a baking parchment in a single layer and place in the oven for 15 minutes. Once cooked leave the courgette cubes to cool down slightly.
Place the pasta, courgette, tomatoes, mozzarella, basil leaves, and pesto in a large bowl, and gently mix until all the pasta and vegetables are coated in pesto.
Scatter the spinach on the bottom of a serving bowl or individual bowls, then top it with summer pesto pasta salad and scatter the toasted pinenuts on top!

Notes

Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 697kcalCarbohydrates: 87gProtein: 31gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 24mgSodium: 835mgPotassium: 910mgFiber: 7gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 4985IUVitamin C: 49mgCalcium: 172mgIron: 4mg

Keyword Courgette Pasta Salad, Pasta Salad With Zucchini, Pesto Pasta Salad With Mozzarella, Summer Pasta Salad, Summer Pesto Pasta Salad, Vegetable Pesto Pasta Salad

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