This Vegetable Pasta Salad with Basil Pesto is an easy recipe that you will turn to time and time again.
If you're looking for the perfect summer pasta recipe this is it! Summer squash and zucchini are flourishing over the summer and I love to use them in pasta like this one and this Pasta with Zucchini, Raisins, and Walnuts.
Ingredients.
Pasta - use your favorite pasta. This is also a great recipe for using up bits of pasta that you have left in bags. I always seem to have 2-4 ounces of pasta left in several bags!
Vegetables - you need about 6 cups. You can use whatever is flourishing for you. For this version, I used summer squash and snap peas. I've used zucchini, summer squash, green beans, and snap peas. If you are using a heartier vegetable, you will probably need to boil them longer.
Pesto - use your favorite pesto, store-bought or homemade. I've used Parsley Pesto, Spinach Pesto, and Basil Pesto.
This vegetable pasta salad is so easy and so versatile. This is a great reason to always keep a jar of pesto in your pantry or freezer. With that and some pasta, you are ready for all of the summer vegetables!
More summer pasta recipes.
Recipe.
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Vegetable Pasta Salad with Basil Pesto
Ingredients
- ½ pound dry pasta around the same size as you cut the veggies
- 6 cups vegetables cut into about a 1 inch cube (bite - sized)
- ⅔ cup basil pesto you can add extra virgin olive oil if yours is to thick
- salt and fresh ground black pepper
Instructions
- Heat a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Add the veggies and boil for about 2-3 minutes. Spoon the out with a slotted spoon and place in a colander. Rinse with cold water to stop them from cooking. Drain well and place in a large bowl.
- Cook pasta per package directions. Drain and place in bowl with veggies. Add pesto. If it seems to dry you can add a little extra virgin olive oil.
- Taste and adjust the seasonings.
Miz Helen says
Hi Pam,
Your Veggie Pasta Salad looks fabulous! Hope you have a great week and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Cakelaw says
Yummo - what a lovely summer salad recipe.
Von says
I love basil- definitely one of my favourite herbs, but unfortunately, my attempts to grow basil myself have failed miserably every time 🙁 Your veggie salad pasta looks super tasty!
grace says
i don't eat pasta very often, but 90% of the time, pesto is involved. lovely salad, pam!
Joanne says
Pesto pasta is the best part of summer!
Edible Celebrations (@lavesta) says
Hi Pam,
Before I forget, again, your new blog look is beautiful!
Now, for that pasta salad. Oh yum! I am so excited that I grew basil this year. I want to make pesto and freeze it too. Marion doesn't like it but I love the stuff so I'm going to freeze it all for me, and for company if I ever get any, lol...
Your Pasta Salad looks so refreshing. 6 cups of veggies sounds like a lot but the more the better, lol...Thanks for sharing, Pam...
Pam, thank you so much for playing the Picnic Game. I hope you enjoyed yourself as much as I did:) I'm so glad I "stashed" some of your pickles away before they were all gone!!!