A robust cold pasta salad that is filled with fresh ingredients and tossed together with a simple yet magnificent dressing!
I just love a good pasta salad and I especially love ones that pack a punch of flavor! This one graces my table often as a side dish. I also like to eat the leftovers for lunch the next day. It pairs well with chicken, pork, or fish dishes. I use rotini pasta because it grabs all the seasoning, fresh herbs, and dressing in the swirls. This ways you get all the yumminess in every bite.
We will be using a whole bell pepper, some cherry tomatoes, red onion, feta cheese, fresh spinach and a super easy dressing. The dressing is a heaping spoonful of basil and garlic pesto with zesty Italian dressing. I love making and keeping fresh pesto on hand.
HERE is my recipe. 10 minute Basil- Pesto Sauce
If you are buying from the grocery store make sure you get some with garlic. One that is in most all grocery stores is the Barilla brand- Rustic Basil. It is flavorful and easy to store in the fridge. As for the dressing I use a zesty Italian salad dressing. Get whatever brand is your favorite. We will be mixing the pesto and salad dressing together. It’s so simple yet INCREDIBLE!
This recipe makes 4-6 servings. I use about 1/2-3/4 a 16 ounce box of pasta but you can use the whole box and easily double the recipe. Just remember to double the sauce too.
Ok let’s get right to it!
Zesty Pesto Salad
Ingredients
- 8 oz uncooked rotini pasta Most come in 16 oz, so make half or 3/4 of the pasta.
- 1-2 heaping handfuls of fresh baby spinach
- 1/4 red onion, chopped small
- 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped small
- 15 cherry tomatoes, quartered
- 1 cup feta cheese
- 1 HEAPING tablespoon of pesto sauce
- 1/4 cup zesty Italian dressing
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp parsley, minced
Instructions
- Cook the pasta until al dente in salted water according to package directions.
- Drain the pasta, and run under cold water in a colander. Set aside.
- In a small bowl add the pesto and dressing. Mix well and set aside.
- Chop the bell pepper, onion, tomatoes, and fresh parsley.
- Now in a large mixing bowl, add the pasta, spinach, bell pepper, onion, tomatoes, and feta cheese.
- Next goes the salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and the parsley.
- Lastly we pour the dressing on top and toss it all together.
- You can serve immediately or cover and keep in the refrigerator until ready to eat.
- ENJOY!
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