Pasta Salad with Lemon Pesto Dressing
Elevate your summer meals with this zesty and refreshing Pasta Salad with Lemon Pesto Dressing! Bursting with vibrant Mediterranean flavors, this easy-to-make dish combines tender rotini pasta with juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, savory black olives, and a tangy homemade lemon pesto dressing. The star of the recipe is the bright and citrusy pesto, made with fresh basil, Parmesan, pine nuts, garlic, and a generous squeeze of lemon juice for a fresh twist. Perfect as a side dish for picnics, barbecues, or light lunches, this pasta salad comes together in just 30 minutes and can be served chilled or at room temperature. It’s a crowd-pleaser packed with bold flavors and a delightful balance of textures—ideal for anyone craving a quick and healthy Mediterranean-inspired dish.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 12 oz Rotini pasta
- 2 cups Basil leaves
- 0.5 cups Grated Parmesan cheese
- 0.25 cups Pine nuts
- 2 Garlic cloves
- 3 tbsp Lemon juice
- 1 tsp Lemon zest
- 0.5 cups Olive oil
- 2 cups Cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1 Cucumber (diced)
- 0.5 Red onion (thinly sliced)
- 0.5 cups Black olives (sliced)
- 1 tsp Salt
- 0.5 tsp Pepper
Instructions
Cook the rotini pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool. Set aside to dry.
In a food processor, combine basil leaves, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, garlic cloves, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Pulse until the mixture is finely blended.
With the food processor running, slowly drizzle in olive oil until the pesto reaches a smooth consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and black olives.
Pour the lemon pesto dressing over the pasta salad and toss well to evenly coat.
Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper, if needed.
Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
Serve chilled or at room temperature, garnished with additional Parmesan cheese or fresh basil leaves if desired.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
2990 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 173.9 g | 223% | |
| Saturated Fat | 31.0 g | 155% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 22.1 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 40 mg | 13% | |
| Sodium | 3966 mg | 172% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 294.4 g | 107% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 23.0 g | 82% | |
| Total Sugars | 24.5 g | ||
| Protein | 70.1 g | 140% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 738 mg | 57% | |
| Iron | 18.6 mg | 103% | |
| Potassium | 2092 mg | 45% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
