Pasta Salad With Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Recipes

PENNE WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATO PESTO

Steps:

• Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
• Meanwhile, blend the sun-dried tomatoes and their oil, garlic, salt and pepper, to taste, and basil in a food processor and blend until the tomatoes are finely chopped. Transfer the tomato mixture to a large bowl. Stir in the Parmesan.
• Add the pasta to the pesto and toss to coat, adding enough reserved cooking liquid to moisten. Season the pasta, to taste, with salt and pepper and serve.

PASTA SALAD WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATO PESTO

Steps:

• Pesto: Lightly toast the pine nuts and set aside.
• In a food processor or blender add the basil, garlic, and parsley. Process until finely chopped.
• Add the pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and salt; process using the PULSE setting until just blended.
• With the appliance running, gradually add the olive oil through the feed tube, processing until a smooth paste is formed.
• Add the sun-dried tomatoes and vinegar of choice, processing until the tomatoes are finely chopped but flecks are still visible.
• Yield: 1 1/2 cups pesto.
• Pasta Salad: Transfer the cooked, chilled pasta to a pretty salad bowl and stir in the pesto sauce, making sure the pasta is generously coated. (You may or may not use up all the pesto sauce.).
• Cover salad bowl and chill the salad up to 6 hours.
• Yield is estimated.