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pesto pasta salad in a bowl

Pesto Pasta Salad

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 12 people
Calories: 321kcal
Author: Becky Hardin
This creamy Pesto Pasta Salad is easy to make and and a delight to eat! Fresh and colorful, this salad can be made ahead of time and is the perfect side dish to serve at summer parties or to take to a pot luck.
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Ingredients

  • 1 pound Mini Farfalle bowtie pasta 1 box
  • ½ cup prepared Basil Pesto
  • ¾ cup mayonnaise
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 ounces chopped prosciutto
  • ½ cup chopped Peperoncini
  • 6 thinly-sliced radishes trimmed of stems
  • 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes quartered; divided
  • ¼ cup toasted pine nuts divided
  • ½ cup shaved Parmigiana or Parmesan cheese divided
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves divided

Instructions

  • Cook the pasta to al-dente, per package directions. Drain and rinse the pasta with cold water to stop the cooking; shake off excess liquid. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with paper towels. Pour the cooked pasta onto the paper towels to let the pasta dry about 15-20 minutes.
  • While the pasta cooks, whisk together the pesto, mayonnaise and black pepper. Keep the sauce refrigerated until ready to use.
  • After the pasta has cooled and dried, transfer it to a large mixing bowl. Add prosciutto, peperoncini, radish slices, 3/4ths of the tomatoes, 2 tablespoons pine nuts, ¼ cup shaved Parmigiana and 1 tablespoon chopped basil. Toss to combine.
  • Pour the Pesto/Mayonnaise sauce over the salad and gently mix until all ingredients are coated.
  • To serve, place the salad on a serving platter and sprinkle with the remaining tomatoes, pine nuts, shaved Parmigiana and basil.
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 321kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 289mg | Potassium: 209mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 615IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 0.8mg