Simple Pesto Pasta Salad

This Pesto Pasta Salad is enticing and delicious. Quick and Easy to make, and is the perfect side dish for Summertime dishes.

 Pesto Pasta Salad... It’s a crowd-pleaser at a cookout. Pasta tossed with tomatoes & pesto sauce. So simple, yet so delicious. You can make your own pesto or use store-bought pesto for an effortless meal!

What Ingredients are in Pesto Pasta Salad

Bow tie pasta: Bow tie pasta also known as Farfalle

Cherry Tomatoes: Since grape tomatoes are more widely available, it's perfectly fine to use them when a recipe calls for cherry tomatoes

Basil Pesto: Traditional Pesto Alla Genovese is made simply with basil, pine nuts, Parmesan, garlic, salt, and olive oil

Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Extra-virgin olive oil is considered an unrefined oil since it’s not treated with chemicals or altered by temperature.

Parmesan Cheese: Parmesan is an Italian hard, granular cheese produced from cow's milk and aged 12–36 months.

How to Make Pesto Pasta Salad

• Cooking bow tie pasta - Bring 4 - 6 quarts of water to a rolling boil. (Boil water in a large pot. To make sure pasta doesn't stick together) 

• Salt the water with at least a tablespoon—more is fine. The salty water adds flavor to the pasta.

• Add bow tie pasta to boiling water. Gently stir. 

• Return to a boil. We are cooking the pasta "al dente" (to be a little firm). Boil uncovered for 8 -11 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

• Test the pasta beginning at 8 minutes to see if it is tender and slightly firm. We don't want limp bow tie pasta.

• Once the pasta is done, drain and place pasta in a mixing bowl and add pesto. Mix well and set aside to cool.

• Add olive oil, cherry tomatoes, salt & pepper to taste.
• Serve on a bed of romaine lettuce, sprinkle grated parmesan cheese on pasta.

What to serve with Pesto Pasta Salad

Grilled Boneless Chicken Thighs

Oven-Baked Italian Meatballs with Marinara Sauce

Pesto Pasta Salad
Author: Nani Fyant
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes

Servings: 4-6 servings

Quick and Easy to make, and is the perfect side dish for Summertime dishes.

  Ingredients:

• 1 lb. package bowtie(farfalle)pasta
• 1 cup of cherry tomatoes, halved
• 3/4 cup prepared basil pesto, store-bought or homemade
• 1 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive oil
• Grated Parmesan cheese
• Romaine Lettuce
• Kosher salt & black pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Add pasta to boiling salted water and cook until done, about 10-13 minutes or as package label
2. Once the pasta is done, place pasta in a mixing bowl and add pesto.
   Mix well and set aside to cool.
3. Add olive oil, cherry tomatoes, salt & pepper to taste.
4. Serve on a bed of romaine lettuce, sprinkle grated parmesan cheese on pasta.