Pesto Pasta Salad

Active Time: 25 MinsTotal Time25 Mins
Yield: Serves 4 (serving size: about 1 1/4 cups)

This fast pasta dish is easy to prep and makes for a nice quick, family-friendly, weeknight dinner. You can top it with chicken to give it a little extra staying power, but it also works well as a lunch salad, or to bring to a potluck as a side dish. We like to use fiber-packed chickpea pasta, but whole wheat is a tasty substitution.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups baby spinach (about 2 oz.)
  • 1 cup basil leaves (about 3/4 oz.)
  • 3 tablespoons (about 3/4 oz.) grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic (from 1 large garlic clove)
  • 3/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 1(8-oz.) pkg. chickpea rotini pasta (such as Banza)
  • 2 cups heirloom grape tomatoes (about 11 oz.)
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 3 tablespoons roasted unsalted pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
  • 1/2 teaspoon flaky sea salt (such as Maldon)

Nutritional Information

  • Calories 390
  • Fat 22g
  • Satfat 3g
  • Unsatfat 17g
  • Protein 19g
  • Carbohydrate 38g
  • Fiber 10g
  • Sugars 8g
  • Added sugars 0g
  • Sodium 586mg
  • Calcium 13% DV
  • Potassium 14% DV
  • Calories 390
  • Fat 22g
  • Satfat 3g
  • Unsatfat 17g
  • Protein 19g
  • Carbohydrate 38g
  • Fiber 10g
  • Sugars 8g
  • Added sugars 0g
  • Sodium 586mg
  • Calcium 13% DV
  • Potassium 14% DV

How to Make It

Step 1

Combine spinach, basil, cheese, garlic, pepper, kosher salt, and 3 tablespoons of the oil in a mini food processor. Process until mostly smooth, about 10 seconds, stopping to scrape bowl as needed. Set aside.

Step 2

Cook pasta in a stockpot according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water. Transfer pasta to a colander; drain and rinse with hot water.

Step 3

Return pot to medium-high heat. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil and tomatoes; cook, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes start to soften and skins split slightly, 1 to 2 minutes. Add pasta; cook, stirring often, until warmed through, about 1 minute. Remove from heat. Add spinach mixture and 1/4 cup of the pasta water to tomato-pasta mixture; toss gently. Add more pasta water if necessary. Sprinkle with parsley, pumpkin seeds, and flaky sea salt; toss gently. Serve immediately.

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