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Pesto Parmesan Pasta Salad
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5 from 4 votes

Pesto Parmesan Pasta Salad

Pesto Parmesan Pasta Salad recipe has only a handful of ingredients and is made in one pot. Boiling the water and cutting the cherry tomatoes in half are probably the most difficult tasks. This is a super healthy Pasta Salad with whole wheat pasta, Parmesan cheese, pesto, broccoli, tomatoes, and spinach, tossed with a quick and easy Pasta Salad Dressing made of lemon juice and olive oil.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
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Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: pasta, pasta salad, pesto
Servings: 8
Calories: 510kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 Pound Pasta Fusilli or Rotini are my favorites
  • 4-5 Cups Fresh Broccoli Florets
  • 2 Cups Cherry Tomatoes Halved
  • 5 Ounces Baby Spinach
  • 1/2 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
  • 1 Cup Pesto Sauce
  • 2 Teaspoons Salt
  • 1 Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
  • 1 Lemon Zest and juice
  • 1/2 Cup Olive Oil
  • 1 Cup Flat-Leaf Parsley Chopped

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt well, it should taste like the ocean
  • Set aside pasta, broccoli, tomatoes, and spinach
  • Combine all of the other ingredients in a large bowl, mix well to create the dressing, add spinach and tomatoes, toss to coat
  • Add pasta, cook according to manufacturer’s instructions, cook to al dente, do not over cook
  • Add the broccoli to the pasta water at the last minute of cooking. Cook for one minute. Drain the pasta and broccoli, and add to the dressing. Toss well. The heat from the pasta and broccoli will cook the tomatoes and wilt the spinach. The hot pasta will absorb the dressing.
  • Refrigerate, overnight is best
  • NOTE: Some pasta will absorb more moisture than others. If dry, make another small amount of Pasta Salad dressing: 1/4 cup olive oil + juice from 1-lemon
Nutrition Facts
Pesto Parmesan Pasta Salad
Amount Per Serving
Calories 510 Calories from Fat 252
% Daily Value*
Fat 28g43%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Cholesterol 8mg3%
Sodium 1012mg44%
Potassium 523mg15%
Carbohydrates 52g17%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 14g28%
Vitamin A 3512IU70%
Vitamin C 71mg86%
Calcium 188mg19%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.