Best 2 Pasta Salad With Lemon Pesto Dressing Recipes

Indulge in a delightful journey of flavors with our refreshing pasta salad, meticulously crafted to tantalize your taste buds. This vibrant dish features a symphony of textures and colors, with tender cooked pasta, crisp vegetables, and a burst of fresh herbs. The highlight of this salad lies in its zesty lemon pesto dressing, a harmonious blend of tangy lemon, aromatic basil, and nutty Parmesan cheese. This delectable dressing elevates the salad to new heights, leaving you craving for more.

Alongside the main pasta salad recipe, this article also offers tantalizing variations to suit diverse dietary preferences and culinary desires. For those with a penchant for creamy textures, the creamy lemon pesto dressing recipe introduces a luscious combination of mayonnaise, sour cream, and Parmesan cheese, creating a rich and velvety sauce that complements the salad perfectly. If you seek a vegan alternative, the vegan lemon pesto dressing recipe offers a vibrant and flavorful option, crafted with wholesome ingredients like cashews, nutritional yeast, and lemon juice.

To complete your culinary experience, the article features a classic homemade pesto recipe, allowing you to create this versatile condiment from scratch. With fresh basil, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil as its foundation, this pesto recipe promises an explosion of flavors that can be enjoyed not only as a salad dressing but also as a flavorful spread or marinade.

Embark on this culinary adventure, where each recipe unfolds a unique symphony of flavors, textures, and colors. Let your taste buds dance with delight as you explore the diverse offerings of this comprehensive pasta salad guide.

Here are our top 2 tried and tested recipes!

NEELY'S LEMON PASTA SALAD

Neely's Lemon Pasta Salad image

Provided by Patrick and Gina Neely : Food Network

Time 30m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

Salt
1 pound corkscrew pasta
1 pound asparagus
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Freshly ground black pepper
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup freshly chopped dill leaves
1 cup frozen peas, defrosted
7 ounces crumbled feta cheese

Steps:

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain and rinse. Set aside.
In another large pot of boiling salted water, add the asparagus and blanch until bright green and slightly tender, about 3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon or a spider and shock in icy cold water. Remove from the water and dry well.
Trim the ends of the asparagus and cut into bite-size pieces on the bias.
Whisk together the mustard, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Combine the reserved asparagus and pasta in a large serving bowl. Add the tomatoes, dill, peas, feta, and the mustard dressing. Toss with tongs to coat the salad well. Taste and add additional salt and pepper, if needed.

PASTA SALAD WITH LEMON-PESTO DRESSING

Pasta Salad With Lemon-Pesto Dressing image

This is a Food Network recipe courtesy of Rachael Ray. A wonderful picnic or potluck salad... no mayo!

Provided by Docs Mom

Categories Potluck

Time 20m

Yield 6-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

Ingredients

1 lb corkscrew macaroni (I use Medium Shells) or 1 lb medium pasta shell (I use Medium Shells)
coarse salt
1 cup prepared pesto sauce, from the refrigerated case in the supermarket
1 lemon, juice and zest of
1/4 cup fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
4 scallions, chopped
3/4 lb ricotta salata, chopped and crumbled (I use Perlini, pearl size) or 1 lb bocconcini, mini pieces fresh mozzarella cheese, drained, pieces halved (I use Perlini, pearl size)
black pepper

Steps:

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it.
Place pesto, lemon zest, lemon juice, parsely, tomatoes, scallions and cheese in a large bowl.
Cook pasta to al dente then cold shock it and chill it down under cold running water. Drain well. Add to mixing bowl. Combine salad and season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 293.2, Fat 1.3, SaturatedFat 0.2, Sodium 9.1, Carbohydrate 59.5, Fiber 3.1, Sugar 1.8, Protein 10.4

Tips:

For the best flavor, use fresh herbs in the pesto dressing.
If you don't have a food processor, you can chop the herbs and nuts by hand.
If you want a thicker dressing, add more Parmesan cheese or nuts.
For a lighter dressing, use less olive oil or use a combination of olive oil and water.
To make the pasta salad ahead of time, cook the pasta and vegetables according to the package directions. Let them cool completely, then toss them with the dressing and refrigerate. The salad will keep for up to 3 days.

Conclusion:

This pasta salad with lemon pesto dressing is a refreshing and flavorful dish that is perfect for a summer meal. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own preferences. With its bright and tangy flavor, this salad is sure to be a hit at your next gathering.

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