Best 3 Orecchiette Pasta Salad With Pesto Recipes

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Indulge in a culinary journey with orecchiette pasta salad, a symphony of flavors that offers a delightful balance of textures and freshness. Originating from Puglia, Italy, orecchiette, meaning "little ears," are distinctively shaped ear-like pasta that perfectly captures the essence of rustic Italian cuisine. This versatile salad features a delectable combination of ingredients, including sweet grape tomatoes, briny olives, tangy capers, and aromatic basil, all tossed in a vibrant homemade pesto dressing. As you savor each bite, you'll be captivated by the harmonious interplay of flavors and textures, making this orecchiette pasta salad an absolute delight.

Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!

ORECCHIETTE WITH ALMOND PESTO



Orecchiette with Almond Pesto image

Provided by Giada De Laurentiis

Categories     main-dish

Time 30m

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

Kosher salt
1 bunch broccoli rabe, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 cup roasted unsalted almonds
2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
1 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/3-inch dice
1 pound orecchiette pasta

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Season well with salt. Add the broccoli rabe to the water and simmer until the stem is just tender when pierced with a knife, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove to a rimmed baking sheet to cool slightly. When cool enough to handle, squeeze out any extra water with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels.
  • Add the almonds to a food processor and pulse until finely chopped, 5 or 6 times. Add the basil, oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Puree until combined and almost smooth. Pour the pesto into a large bowl. Add the Parmigiano-Reggiano, broccoli rabe and mozzarella and toss well to combine.
  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season liberally with salt. Add the orecchiette and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon or a pasta spider, transfer the pasta directly to the bowl with the pesto. Add 1/2 cup of the pasta water and 1/2 teaspoon salt and toss everything together until evenly coated.
  • Serve warm or at room temperature.

PESTO ORECCHIETTE WITH GRILLED SHRIMP AND CORN



Pesto Orecchiette with Grilled Shrimp and Corn image

Provided by Geoffrey Zakarian

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h30m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 18

1 pound extra-large or jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 ears corn, shucked
3 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for drizzling
1 pound orecchiette pasta
4 cloves garlic, sliced
1 serrano pepper, thinly sliced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons Basil Pesto, recipe follows
Grated Parmesan, for garnish
Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
2 cloves garlic
Zest of 1 lemon
1/4 cup shelled and toasted pistachios
1 cup olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
2 cups fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup grated Parmesan

Steps:

  • Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Drizzle the shrimp and corn with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place the corn and shrimp on the grill. Grill the shrimp until cooked through and evenly charred, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Grill the corn until charred, 5 to 8 minutes per side. Remove from the grill and cool. Cut the shrimp in half lengthwise, head to tail. Cut the corn kernels off the cobb.
  • Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add a pasta insert. Pour in the pasta, stir, and boil until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the pasta insert with the pasta; keep the water boiling.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the 3 tablespoons oil, garlic and serrano pepper. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and cook, stirring, for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the grilled corn and shrimp. Dip the pasta insert back in the water briefly, then lift the insert out, shake off excess water and add the pasta to the skillet. Turn off the heat and add the butter, Basil Pesto and some Parmesan. Toss to coat. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.
  • Serve with more Parmesan sprinkled over the top. Garnish with basil leaves.
  • Pulse the garlic, lemon zest, pistachios, 1/4 cup oil, salt and pepper in a food processor until coarse. Add the basil and another 1/4 cup oil and pulse a few times to combine. Blend the mixture while streaming in the remaining oil. Once combined, add the Parmesan and puree until. Reserve for pasta.

PESTO PASTA SALAD



Pesto Pasta Salad image

For a quick and hearty lunch, mix pasta with bottled pesto sauce.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Salad Recipes

Yield Makes 4 servings as a main dish or 8 as a side dish

Number Of Ingredients 3

Coarse salt
1 pound orecchiette pasta
1 cup store-bought basil pesto (8 ounces)

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add salt. Cook pasta according to the package directions. Drain; rinse well. Let cool. Transfer to a bowl; stir in pesto. Season with salt. Refrigerate in an airtight container until ready to serve, up to 3 days.

Tips:

  • Cook the orecchiette pasta according to the package directions, or until al dente (tender but still slightly firm).
  • To make the pesto, use fresh basil leaves for the best flavor. If you don't have a food processor, you can chop the basil and other ingredients by hand.
  • If you don't have pine nuts, you can substitute walnuts or almonds in the pesto.
  • For a vegan pesto, omit the Parmesan cheese and use nutritional yeast instead.
  • To make the pasta salad, combine the cooked orecchiette, pesto, cherry tomatoes, artichoke hearts, and mozzarella cheese in a large bowl. Toss to coat.
  • Season the pasta salad with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Serve the pasta salad immediately, or chill it for later.

Conclusion:

This orecchiette pasta salad with pesto is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a summer picnic or potluck. The combination of flavors and textures in this salad is sure to please everyone. With its bright and fresh flavors, this pasta salad is a perfect way to enjoy the summer season.

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