Description
A festive pasta salad featuring vibrant green pesto, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh herbs — perfect for holiday gatherings or any celebration.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz rotini or bowtie pasta
- 1 cup basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup fresh mozzarella balls (bocconcini), halved
- 1/4 cup sliced black olives
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
- 2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional: 1/4 cup diced red bell pepper for extra color
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool.
- In a large bowl, toss cooled pasta with basil pesto until evenly coated.
- Add cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, black olives, fresh basil, and diced red bell pepper if using.
- Gently mix to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Sprinkle toasted pine nuts over the top before serving.
- Chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
Notes
- Use gluten-free pasta if needed.
- For a vegan version, substitute mozzarella with dairy-free cheese and pesto with a nut-free pesto.
- Add cooked chicken or chickpeas for extra protein.
- To make homemade pesto, blend fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan, and olive oil.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Boiling, Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 20mg