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    Home » Recipes

    Super Green Pesto Pasta Salad

    Published: Jun 13, 2017 Modified: May 11, 2019 by Candice

    JUMP TO RECIPE PIN RECIPE

    A super green pesto pasta salad with spinach, peas, and asparagus. Sure to spruce up your next bbq, or to make ahead for healthy lunches all week long!

    Pesto Pasta with Spinach in a serving bowl.

    Looking for directions on how to perfectly roast your asparagus? Check them out here!

    Add all your pesto ingredients, except the olive oil, to a food processor.

    Pesto prep shot in food processor.

    While the food processor is running, slowly add in your olive oil. Season with salt & pepper to taste and set aside.

    Pouring olive oil into a food processor.

    Add the roasted asparagus, spinach, & peas to the serving bowl.

    Green vegetables in a serving bowl.

    Cook your pasta per the package, drain, and immediately pour over your veggies in the serving bowl. Let sit for 2 minutes.

    Cooked pasta in a serving bowl.

    Top with the pesto, pine nuts, and parmesan. Toss to mix well!

    Mixing green pasta salad in a serving bowl.

    If serving the super green pesto pasta salad warm, make sure to top with extra parmesan just before serving.

    Shaving parmesan cheese over green pasta salad.

    Looking for the perfect parmesan grater? This ribbon grater is my favorite.

    Print Recipe
    5 from 7 votes

    Super Green Pesto Pasta Salad

    A super green pesto pasta salad with spinach, peas, and asparagus. Sure to spruce up your next bbq, or to make ahead for healthy lunches all week long!
    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time25 mins
    Total Time40 mins
    Course: Main
    Cuisine: American, Italian
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 500kcal
    Author: Candice

    Ingredients

    Pesto:

    • 4 oz. basil Stems removed
    • 2 cloves garlic Rough chopped
    • ¼ cup toasted pine nuts
    • ⅓ cup olive oil
    • ¼ cup parmesan grated
    • salt and pepper to taste

    Ingredients:​

    • 2 cups packed spinach
    • ½  lb. asparagus roasted at 400F for 15 minutes, then cut into 2-inch pieces
    • ½ cup frozen peas
    • 1 lb. pasta I used spinach and chive pasta
    • ¼ cup pine nuts toasted
    • parmesan cheese for serving

    Instructions

    • Bring a pot of water to boil.
    • While you wait, add the pesto ingredients to a food processor, except the olive oil. Process while slowly adding the olive oil, until smooth.
    • Cook the pasta until al dente.
    • Add the spinach, asparagus, and peas to the serving bowl. Add the pasta on top of the ingredients. Let sit 2 minute. Top with the pesto, pine nuts, and parmesan. Mix well.
    • Top with more parmesan to serve!

    Notes

    Your pesto should be the consistency of marinara sauce so it can spread throughout the pasta salad and coat the raw spinach easily.
    You can use both fresh or frozen peas for this recipe. If using fresh peas, consider blanching them for increased sweetness.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 500kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 91mg | Potassium: 446mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 3360IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 123mg | Iron: 3.5mg
    Did you try this recipe?Don't forget to leave a rating and/or comment! And tag @ProportionalPlate on TikTok or Instagram... I'd love to see what you're making.

    Pesto pasta salad with peas

    You can use both fresh or frozen peas for this recipe. If using fresh peas, consider blanching them for increased sweetness.

    Note: Your pesto should be the consistency of marinara sauce so it can spread throughout the pasta salad and coat the raw spinach easily.

    Pasta vs. Pasta Salad

    The fresh spinach in this recipe makes it more of a pasta salad than a pasta. Also, it keeps well in the fridge & tastes just as good cold, making it the perfect potluck/bbq prep-ahead dish for crowds!

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    Meet Candice

    On this blog, I get to share the food that I love, and get to enjoy in my own home. My Persian Jewish heritage influences most of my recipes, and my travels inspire them. And I'm sure you'll notice my love for everything matcha. Welcome, and enjoy!

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    Meet Candice

    On this blog, I get to share the food that I love, and get to enjoy in my own home. My Persian Jewish heritage influences most of my recipes, and my travels inspire them. And I'm sure you'll notice my love for everything matcha. Welcome, and enjoy!

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