I’ve always been a distant fan of pasta salads. In theory they’ve sounded good, yet without fail, have fallen short for me in the flavor department. And so my quest began! Fresh basil, being one of my favorite herbs to cook with, seemed like a great place to start my search for a better pasta salad. It’s flavor is subtle yet distinct, offering a perfect base for mixing and matching a variety of tasty mix ins. In this recipe I added grape tomatoes, Kalamata olives and small fresh mozzarella balls. You could easily include your favorite salami for even more pizzazz or some grilled chicken to make it a meal. From my own experience, more is not always necessarily better. If you have three or four really nice flavors that complement each other there is no reason to mess with it. And NEVER be afraid of salt! It will enhance the flavors in your salad.
Just incase you are feeling adventurous and want to kick your salad up to the next level and make it your own, here are some suggestions:
Proteins you might add in one cup increments:
- Chicken
- Steak
- Ham or salami
- Canned tuna
- Lump crabmeat
- Shrimp
- Hard Boiled Eggs
Veggies in one cup increments:
- Broccoli, blanched
- Carrots, shredded
- Red onion, diced
- Bell pepper, diced (fresh)
- Asparagus, blanched and chopped
- Canned chickpeas or white beans, drained and rinsed
A little something special to really add a pop of flavor, start with 1/3 cup increments:
- Sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- Roasted red peppers, chopped
- Olives, pitted and chopped
- Feta, mozzarella or similar cheese, shredded or crumbled
- Walnuts (chopped), pine nuts, sunflower seeds, toasted
- Bacon, cooked and crumbled
- Capers, throw in a couple of tablespoons
In a food processor fitted with a steel blade, puree all of the ingredients for the Creamy Basil Dressing but the mayo.
Add the mayonnaise and pulse to incorporate.
Pasta Salad with Creamy Basil Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 pound pasta fusilli, rotini, shells, penne, farfalle all work great
- 1 cup grape tomatoes halved lengthwise
- 1/3 cup Kalamata olives sliced into rounds
- 3/4 cup small fresh mozzarella balls otherwise known as Bocconcini
Creamy Basil Dressing
- 2 cups packed basil leaves
- 1 cup packed spinach leaves
- 2 tablespoons roasted sunflower seeds can be salted
- 3 garlic cloves minced or grated
- 1/3 cup good olive oil plus 2 tablespoons for the pasta
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese I use a combo
- 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
Instructions
- If you can, make a batch of the Creamy basil dressing in advance to make it even better.
- Cook pasta al dente in boiling salted water, drain and put in a large bowl. Toss with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Let sit at room temperature.
- In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade, puree all of the ingredients for the Creamy Basil Dressing but the mayo. Add the mayonnaise and pulse to incorporate.
- Add the pesto mixture along with the tomatoes, olives and mozzarella to the pasta and toss well. Season to taste and serve at room temperature.
- Enjoy!
