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Pesto Pasta Salad

Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Keyword: Diabetes Friendly, Heart Healthy
Servings: 4 - 6 people

Ingredients

  • 250 g pasta (I used vetta spirals)
  • 1/2 large pumpkin diced and roasted
  • 2 punnets cherry tomatoes halved
  • 240 g rocket and spinach
  • 100 g pitted kalamata olives halved or sliced
  • 100 g fetta crumbled
  • cooked protein of choice eg. chicken, chickpeas, tuna, salmon

Pesto

  • 1/2 cup pine nuts optional, toasted for extra flavour
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice (approx. 2 lemons juiced)
  • 1 bunch basil (1 cup firmly packed)
  • 2 cloves garlic or 2 tsp crushed garlic
  • 1/3 cup olive oil extra virgin

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of water to the boil and cook pasta according to packet instructions. Drain pasta and immediately rinse under cold water. Transfer to a large bowl
  • Meanwhile, make the pesto by combining all ingredients in a food processor and mix until ingredients are well blended but still chunky.
  • Add the remaining pasta salad ingredients to the pasta bowl and stir to combine. Add pesto and mix to coat. 

Notes

Short on time? home made pesto can be replaced with 1/3 cup store brought pesto.