A simple sun dried tomato pesto is combined with pasta in this Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta Salad that everyone will love. It is a perfect for picnics and pot lucks and can be served warm or cold.
If you have leftover sun dried tomatoes, use them up on this Mediterranean Pizza or this Brie Burger with Sun Dried Tomato and Artichoke Spread.
I was looking for an easy side dish for dinner this past weekend, and after searching through many of my cookbooks, nothing was really speaking to me. So I went online and looked at the recipes I have bookmarked, but still, nothing was speaking to me. Then an online search – at allrecipes.com – and within seconds I found what I wanted to make.
This pasta salad is not only very simple and fast to make, but it is good served either hot or cold. It would be great for a picnic or pot luck, as you wouldn’t have to worry about keeping it warm. Or cooked at home, you can serve it warm along with your dinner. My husband preferred it warm, right after it was made, but I liked it both ways.
I don’t have a food processor (maybe for my birthday next month?) so I just put everything in the blender and mixed it that way. I then stirred it into the warm pasta. The original recipe calls for orzo, but for some reason, the store I went to did not carry it. So my husband chose mini shells for this. I think it would have been good with orzo, but I actually think I would prefer it with the mini shells because they worked with the sauce really nicely.
More Pasta Salad Recipes
Bow Tie Pasta Salad
Caprese Pasta Salad
Pesto Pasta and Ham Salad
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Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 2 cups small cut pasta
- 1/2 cup chopped sun dried tomatoes packed in oil
- 3/4 cup fresh basil
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese plus extra to serve on top
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon ground pepper
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente. Reserve a mug-full of the pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Drain the tomatoes from the oil, reserving the oil. Combine the basil, sun dried tomatoes and Parmesan in a blender or food processor and process until smooth. Add 2 tablespoons of the tomato oil and continue to process until combined. Season with the salt and pepper.
- In a bowl, combine the pasta and the sun dried tomato pesto and stir to combine. If needed, use some of the starchy cooking water to bring it all together.
- Serve warm or cold.
Kate says
I think the mini shells work just fine.It really allows the sauce to stay inside making it moist…yumm more sauce .
Judy says
What a tasty sounding and looking meal.
JennDZ - The Leftover Queen says
Lovely! Anything with sundried tomatoes has got my vote!
Belinda says
This sounds really good, Deborah, I love sun dried tomatoes. And I agree that your husband made a great choice with the little shells for the sauce. 🙂
sher says
Oh, this looks fabulous! And I broke my food processor yesterday! Oh well. I did without one for years.
Cynthia says
You have motivated me to try making this pesto.
Kelly-Jane says
I have a processor, but it depends on my mood if I use it or not!
Looks lovely, mmmm.
Janet says
A delicious and simple idea. I had to live for about 3 weeks without a food processor. Mine broke and I got a new one for my birthday. It was tough, I guess I didn’t realize how much I used it. So beware! It’s like a microwave… once you get one, you will NEVER be able to NOT have one!
Ruth Daniels says
Fabulous salad and I’m with you…lttle shells to catch all the pesto…what could be better?!
Thanks for bringing it to the Presto Pasta Night big six month bash.
KJ says
This looks really good. Basil always adds such a lovely fresh taste.
Anh says
This is a simple and delicious dish. I love this type of recipe. Will try it soon!
Valli says
A great entry for Presto Pasta Nights anniversary. I had wanted to do something for the roundup…but c’est la vie!!! This pasta looks wonderful and as you said is easy to prepare with few ingredients and still tastes incredible.
Kevin says
Sun dried tomato pesto is great.
Brilynn says
I like shell shaped pasta best because of all the sauce that gets trapped inside. This looks great!
Mandy says
this dish looks yummy. I am another one without food processor. I painstakingly chopped the basil and nuts with a knife yesterday. It took at least 15 minutes. Why I didn’t think of using a blender!
Patricia Scarpin says
I’m glad to hear you made it without the food processor, Deb – I don’t have one either.
It looks delish!