Pesto Pasta Salad with Pine Nuts
A fresh, flavorful twist on a classic! Tossed with juicy cherry tomatoes, creamy mozzarella balls, and crunchy toasted pine nuts, it’s the perfect make-ahead side dish for cookouts, potlucks, or easy weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
- 1 and 1/4 cups basil pesto see note
- 16 ounces cavatappi rotini, or another pasta shape
- kosher salt
- 2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes halved
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella balls or pieces
- 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
- 1-2 Tablespoons slivered fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Make the pesto. Blitz your homemade pesto together in a food processor (see note), or, if keeping it super simple, measure it out from store-bought.1 and 1/4 cups basil pesto
- Cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil, add a generous pinch of salt, and cook pasta just to al dente, according to package instructions. Drain and set aside for 5-10 minutes to cool.16 ounces cavatappi, kosher salt
- Assemble. Transfer drained pasta to a large bowl and stir in the pesto. Add tomatoes, mozzarella, and pine nuts, then stir well.2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes, 8 ounces fresh mozzarella balls or pieces, 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
- Serve. Sprinkle with fresh basil and serve right away, or keep in the fridge for up to 24 hours.1-2 Tablespoons slivered fresh basil leaves
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Notes
- Pesto: A simple recipe for homemade pesto: blitz 1/2 cup nuts (such as walnuts, pine nuts, or a mix), 6 cloves peeled garlic, zest of half a lemon, 3-4 cups fresh basil leaves, 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper in a blender or food processor. Stream in 1/2 cup of extra-virgin olive oil, and add a little more as needed until the pesto has your desired consistency. Use 1 and 1/4 cups in the pasta salad and refrigerate the rest for another use.
- Pine Nuts: If you can't find pre-toasted pine nuts, buy raw pine nuts and toast them yourself in a dry skillet set over medium or medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes, just until they're fragrant and take on a golden tinge.
Nutrition Estimate
Calories: 467 kcal, Carbohydrates: 48 g, Protein: 17 g, Fat: 23 g, Saturated Fat: 6 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2 g, Cholesterol: 21 mg, Sodium: 545 mg, Potassium: 257 mg, Fiber: 3 g, Sugar: 4 g, Vitamin A: 1101 IU, Vitamin C: 9 mg, Calcium: 301 mg, Iron: 2 mg