Pasta Salad with Cilantro-Walnut Pesto

DESCRIPTION

Enjoy this light, refreshing – and slightly different – pasta salad. It will look familiar, but taste surprising, in a very subtle way–try it hot or cold. Be sure to make the pesto well ahead of time for optimum flavor.

Total Time
25 Mins
Serves
4
Meal
Dinner Lunch

Total Time

Prep Time
15 Mins
Cook Time
10 Mins
Total Time
25 Mins

Nutrition

Calories
290 cal
Total Fat
6 g
Polyunsaturated Fat
2 g
Cholesterol
0 mg
Sodium
300 mg
Carbohydrates
49 g
Dietary Fiber
4 g
Protein
8 g

Ingredients

Pasta
  • 8 ounces pasta (fusilli or cavatappi)
  • 1-2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup Cilantro-Walnut Pesto (recipe follows)
  • 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar, or to taste
  • 1 red bell pepper, small, diced very small
  • 8-10 snow peas, trimmed and halved diagonally
  • 4-6 ounces mozzarella, fresh, in small dices
  • Black pepper to taste
Optional

Additional minced vegetables: minced carrot, cucumber, and/or fennel

Cilantro-Walnut Pesto
  • 1 cup California walnut halves
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic, minced or crushed
  • 1 cup cilantro (leaves and smaller stems), firmly packed
  • Scant 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Optional toppings
  • Cilantro, fresh, minced
  • Cherry tomatoes, halved
  • California walnuts, chopped

Preparation

Pasta
  1. Cook the pasta according the package instructions. Drain, then toss with olive oil, salt, 4 tablespoons of the pesto, and the vinegar. Stir to blend thoroughly, let it cool to room temperature.
  2. Stir in the vegetables, followed by the mozzarella and black pepper to taste.
  3. Serve warm or at room temperature – or chill, and serve cold. Top it with additional pesto, if you like, plus any of the other optional toppings.
Cilantro-Walnut Pesto (Makes 1/2 cup)
  1. Place the walnuts in a blender or the small bowl of a food processor, and grind to a coarse meal.
  2. Add the garlic, cilantro, and salt, and continue to run the machine until it becomes a uniform green paste (some light walnut texture is fine).
  3. Run the machine while you drizzle in the oil. Transfer to a container with a tight fitting lid, and refrigerate until use.