The Perfect Summer Pasta Salad
Well friends, we are smack in the middle of Summer and doesn’t it feel so good?! I’ll even go out on a limb and say it is a ton better than last Summer. Summer for most of us means warm days, sun kissed cheeks, fun outdoors and a ton of tasty food. Like BBQ, fruity cocktails, and frozen sweet treats. When I think of Summer I immediately think of sand between my toes, family gatherings, and an ice cold beverage while my kids are running around barefoot. I love Summer (not as much as I love the Fall ;) and the long sun filled days it brings with it. Sound off in the comments what you love most about the Summer months …
As I mentioned above, Summer has some of the most tastiest foods. Meaning, some food just tastes better outside enjoyed with friends and family. One of them being, pasta salad?! YES! I said pasta salad! You know that iconic family gathering side dish that people either love or hate. Most have their own tried and true recipe and today I’m sharing mine. I hope you take this recipe to heart and whip it up quick to take and enjoy with friends and family. With the Fourth of July coming this weekend it would be a great addition to whatever your festivities may be.
Just take a look …
The best thing about this recipe is that it can be enjoyed cold or warm. You can make a giant batch earlier in the day and then keep it in the refrigerator until you are ready to head out. Or if you need a quick dinner idea, this is a great one to whip up and enjoy warm right away. Another great thing? You can swap the veggies in this for others your family may enjoy more. I love using peas because they add a nice sweetness to this otherwise savory pasta. But you can add diced carrots, asparagus, or green beans might be good. Skip the veggies all together and just enjoy the almond pesto and bacon. Truly I give you the recipe and make of it as you wish!
One hot tip here, when making the bacon I like to use scissors and cut it directly into the pan. This way you end up with perfect bite sized pieces of bacon through out the salad.
While the bacon cooks, start boiling your pasta in salted water! I like to add a few tablespoons of olive oil to the water as well to help the noodles not stick so much once drained. I love using penne pasta here but you can use whatever pasta you have on hand or like best.
Now, let’s make the pesto! I like making mine in the food processor but you can also get it done in a blender. It all comes together with a healthy dose of olive oil ;) as any good pesto does.
Once the pasta is cooked, and the pesto is made it is time to toss it all together. Grab a giant bowl and toss everything together. This is the fun part!
There you have it! The tastiest and easiest pasta salad you’ll make this Summer! I hope it becomes a mid-year staple and everyone loves it. Find the recipe below and let me know if you toss it together!
Happy Summer Friends!
Almond Pesto Pasta Salad
Ingredients
1 pound penne pasta
1/2 pound bacon
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups cooked peas
1 tablespoon salt
To Make The Pesto
1 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
3 peeled garlic cloves
about 3 cups or 3 large handfuls of fresh basil leaves * you can substitute one cup with spinach for a more subtle basil taste.
1 cup olive oil
salt + pepper to taste
Makes About 6-8 Servings
Directions
Step 1: Start by adding about 1 tablespoon of salt and 2 tablespoons of olive oil to water and bring to boil. Add your pasta and cook until just soft. You want the pasta to still have a bit of a bite to it. Careful not to over cook your pasta so it doesn’t get mushy.
Step 2: While the pasta is cooking. Start cooking the bacon. I like to use scissors and cut the bacon right into the pan. Once the bacon is cooked, place it on a dishtowel to drain and set aside.
Step 3: In a small pot of boiling water, cook 2 cups of peas until they are warmed through. Drain them and dunk them in ice water so they keep their bright green color. Drain them from the ice water and set aside.
Step 4: In a food processor or blender blend all the pesto ingredients except for the olive oil. I like to slowly drizzle the olive oil in as I blend the ingredients until a thick paste like sauce develops.
Step 5: Once the pasta is cooked and drained, add it to a large bowl.
Step 6: Add the pesto to the pasta and toss together. Add in the bacon, peas and toss together.
Step 7: Sprinkle Parmesan all over and serve right away OR store it in the refrigerator until it is chilled, then serve it cold. Enjoy!
