Pesto Pasta Pea Salad

x 1

YUM -- best pasta salad ever! (sez Marianne)


Prep Time

15 min

Cook Time

12 min

Total Time

27 min

Serves

12

Servings

12

pot
bowl
food processor

Ingredients

  • 3/4 pound fusili pasta
  • 3/4 pound bow-tie pasta
  • 1/4 cup olive oil good
  • 1 1/2 cup pesto homemade
  • 1 package frozen chopped spinach 10 oz pkg, defrosted and squeezed dry
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice freshly squeezed
  • 1 1/4 cup mayonnaise good
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 1/2 cup frozen peas defrosted
  • 1/3 cup pignolis toasted (pine nuts)
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

  1. Cook the fusilli and bow-tie pasta separately in a large pot of boiling salted water for 10-12 minutes, until each pasta is al dente.
  2. Drain and toss into a bowl with the olive oil. Cool to room temperature.
  3. In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade, puree the pesto, spinach and lemon juice.
  4. Add the mayonnaise and continue to puree.
  5. Add the pesto mixture to the cooled pasta, then add the parmesan cheese, peas, pignolis, salt and pepper.
  6. Mix well, season to taste, and serve at room temperature.