basil pasta salad with sundried tomatoes safeway basil pasta salad with sundried tomatoes safeway

There will always be a place in my heart for creamy dressings like this Chicken Pasta Salad, but theres no denying that I find pasta salads tossed with vinaigrettes more appealing. But you could swap it for the pasta in this Creamy Ranch Bowtie Pasta Salad Recipe and that would be delicious too! Place cooled tortellini, crumbled prosciutto, spinach, onion, roasted red peppers, and tomato in a large bowl. Step 2. Set aside until needed. Start with about 1/4 cup of pesto and work up from there according to taste. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . Dont skimp), go ahead and dump in 1 cup of the Parmesan. I like adding chilli flakes for a bit of spice but you can leave this out if you want. Eat it at room temperature or chill before serving. Stir until combined and mascarpone cheese has melted, then turn to low. Taste and season with extra salt and pepper if needed. Sheela is the Senior Contributing Food Editor at Kitchn and the author of. 1 cup loosely packed fresh flat-leafed parsley leaves, minced. Remove the mozzarella cheese balls from the oil and set them aside, too. Fold to combine. I love them as the basis of a dressing or sauce. This version is much more garlic forward. Cook pasta al dente according to package instructions. In the meantime, prep the remaining ingredients. Bring a large pot with water to boil, salt your pasta water once boiling and add pasta. Im sure it will become a staple in our household. In this recipe, its the oil-packed variety that forms the base of this dead-simple pesto rosso, or red pesto. Its a vinaigrette, and its made using the oil from the jar of sun dried tomatoes. Find web story slides here of Cupful of Kale recipe favourites! Tortellini Pasta Salad is made with cheesy tortellini pasta, crispy prosciutto, roasted red peppers, juicy tomatoes, Italian dressing, and Parmesan cheese. Make it in under 30 minutes and serve cold or room temperature! Reserve 13 cup pasta cooking water ( cup for 4 servings), then drain. This will now be my go to dish to bring to parties. Add remaining Dressing ingredients. Serve warm Or at room temperature. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Its similar! Published January 19, 2022 By Lorie 4 Comments. Add the tomatoes, pine nuts, basil, lemon, salt, pepper and chilli flakes in a blender. Subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest for all the latest! Thank you! Measure out 1/3 cup of the oil, top with extra virgin olive oil if short. Get our best recipes, grocery finds, and clever kitchen tips delivered to your inbox. Add sun-dried tomatoes, garlic cloves, basil, parmesan cheese, and salt and pepper in a food processor. Here Ive paired it with spinach, tomatoes, peppers, prosciutto and other Italian flavors. Whoops! Whisk together the dressing ingredients and pour of it over the pasta salad and toss. Hi Nagi, Quick question, is the pasta weight cooked or uncooked? Im so glad you enjoyed it! Mince garlic and set aside. I end up cooking half a box and then measuring out 12oz cooked pasta. Meanwhile, bake prosciutto on a parchment-lined baking sheet at 400 degrees F for 6-8 minutes, until dried and crisp (will continue to crisp slightly as it cools so dont overcook). bowtie pasta, lemon zest, sun dried tomatoes, fresh ground black pepper and 7 more. My son said I HAVE to make it again. This post may contain affiliate links. Tomatoes and olives are added in. Combine the tuna, basil, and sun-dried tomatoes in a salad bowl; mix until thoroughly incorporated. Pan fry until golden, about four minutes. The Southern Living Test Kitchen team includes a team of professionals with deep expertise in recipe development, from pastry chefs and grilling experts to nutritionists and dietitians. Ashley Manila is a dessert lover, wine enthusiast, pasta aficionado, and recipe perfectionist! Talk about DELISH!? Instructions. So good made this today it was bomb! Its a deliciously comforting but healthy pasta salad side dish that is also great for lunches or a busy weeknight dinner with some sides! Chill for about 30 minutes and then toss remaining dressing before serving. . Tag me on Instagram at. With processor running, pour in olive oil through food chute until . Pour dressing over salad and toss to fully combine. Cook the pasta: place a large pot of salted water over medium high heat then bring to a boil. Set aside. Your email address will not be published. Refrigerate for 2 hours to overnight. Simmer. The ones that are not packed in oil can be rehydrated in water and both the plump sun-dried tomatoes and its umami-rich broth can be used in a cozy risotto. Dressing. I like keeping this 20-Minute Tomato, Basil, and Mozzarella Pasta Salad very simple and vegetarian friendly! Cook the pasta according to package instructions. I also like to do things my way, which means improvising and breaking the rules when necessary. If using fresh corn, add cobs to the pasta water in the last 5 minutes of cooking. NOTE: I have also made this salad using diced pepperoni (about 1/2 cup) in place of the chicken. FOR THE CORN: If using canned corn, drain it. What a perfect way to have a healthy pasta salad in the summer! Reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water before draining the pasta. And its not only infused with sun dried tomato flavour, its got a bunch of other flavourings as well, all things we love garlic, herbs, sugar, salad and pepper. I made your sun-dried tomato/chicken salad for an after bike club ride (Ontario Canada) individual picnic yesterday. Yum!! Pasta salad may be made and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. Therell be a tiny degree of separation of ingredients, so dont feel like you have to keep blending it to death. Reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking water. Dont forget to follow along onFacebook,PinterestandInstagram Id love to see you all there! There should be no large chunks of anything! By posting a product through these links, I may receive a small commission. ), crumbled feta cheese (from 1 [4-oz.] Didnt have white wine vinegar used red wine vinegar and still was so good!!! Awesome! When the dressing amount looks good (you really want the dressing to make an appearance! This sun-dried tomato pasta salad recipe is an easy orecchiette salad with peas, corn, basil, green onions, and parmesan! If youre lucky enough to have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Yum. I find 7 to 8 minutes at a full boil is usually perfect but this will vary depending on the variety and brand of pasta you choose. Minimal ingredients to chop. This recipe is as easy or involved as you want it to be! Reserve excess oil for another purpose. Join my free email list to receive THREE free cookbooks! So sorry to read about Dozer. Its perfect for picnics and for when you need something lighter but still comforting. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Cook pasta according to package directions in salted water. Of course, it needs a little more Parmesan. In a large bowl combine pasta, sundried tomatoes, bell pepper, olives, spinach, basil, and parmesan cheese. We all know pesto is one of lifes best sauces but have you ever tried sun dried tomato pesto? Or SIGN UP for my EMAIL NEWSLETTER to get updates and recipes straight to your inbox! Whisk together the salad dressing, mayonnaise, and Parmesan cheese, and pour over the salad. Fresh basil, spinach, mozzarella, parmesan, tomatoes, and onion and a fresh dressing. And i cant believe how easy it was to make such a delicious dressing! To make the salad, cook 1 pound of corkscrew (rotini, fusilli) pasta until done. Required fields are marked *. Besides tossing it with pasta, this pesto can do many, many things. Once shimmering, add garlic and saute until lightly golden, then pour in chicken broth. Your email address will not be published. I love this pasta salad! I was a little confused to either use 12oz of cooked pasta or dry? In a medium skillet over medium low heat, add pesto, heavy cream, mascarpone cheese and red pepper flakes. Mix well. Pick basil leaves from stems; roughly chop leaves. Ive been keeping these sweet treasures stocked in my pantry for years because, despite their recent lack of popularity, theyre flavor-packed gems that are endlessly useful in the kitchen. Always looking for something to cook up the day ahead so I dont need to heat up my kitchen during the day! jar oil packed sun-dried tomatoes 2 garlic cloves 1 cup fresh basil leaves, packed, plus more for garnish 1/4 tsp. Yes, this recipe can be made in advance! Garlic: Be sure to use FRESH garlic! Make the dressing! Set aside. Tangy sundried tomato dressing poured over corkscrew pasta , with tomatoes, olives, and plenty of Parmesan cheese. This post may contain affiliate links. I use store bought Mixed Herbs. red pepper flakes 1 1/2 cups fresh baby spinach, packed 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper Instructions Pulse, pulse, and pulse until the mixture is combined. Add the garlic and crushed red pepper flakes and saut for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Drain and run under cold water to stop cooking. Return the pasta to the now-empty pot. Mix in the chicken, roasted peppers, sun-dried tomatoes and cheese. Add the Parmesan, parsley, 1 (8.5-ounce) jar sun-dried tomatoes with their oil, 1/4 teaspoon balsamic vinegar, and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt to the food processor. (Say that fast three times.). container). 5.0 2. . Rigatoni could work in a pinch, but I find noodles with crevices shine best in pasta salad. Toss all pasta salad ingredients together, then drizzle on the dressing and toss to combine. It takes it to a whole new level. The beauty of sun dried tomatoes is that the flavour and richness only intensifies after drying. Best served at room temperature. Add 1 more tablespoon of the sun-dried tomato oil to the saut pan. We love to serve it with BBQ Chicken, Grilled Potatoes in Foil and Easy Broccoli Salad for an easy but delicious summer meal! All opinions remain my own. Delish! When the pasta is done, reserve a 1/4 cup of the pasta water. Marinated mozzarella balls: You can use unmarinated if need be. Remember that the pasta will be served cold, so it can cook just a little past al dente. Add a touch of oil to roughly chopped kale and gently massage leaves between fingers for 1-2 minutes. Place the basil, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, sugar, salt, and pepper in a food processor and pulse until smooth. Add spinach, chicken, tomato, onion, pour over Dressing. And, bug duh, I forgot to thank you for the shout out! Thank you for this awesome recipe. Add in more dressing. Drain well. This salad will keep up to 4 days in the fridge in an airtight container, making it great for meal prep! Nutrition is for 6 servings. Let it come to room temp or even microwave briefly, the toss with reserved Dressing! This recipe is simple to pull together and sure to impress the entire family with its flavorful ingredients, such as sun-dried tomatoes and feta cheese (just to name a few). Reduce heat. Instructions. Add the sun-dried tomatoes and cream to the pan and simmer for two minutes. Place 1/4 cup walnut halves or pieces into a small skillet. Can you confirm if it should of been 12oz dry pasta? I made this Pasta Salad with Sun Dried Tomatoes today and it tasted PHENOMENAL! Cook until al dente, 9-11 minutes. And as a bonus, being mayo-free makes this recipe perfect for picnics and potlucks since it can withstand being at room temperature for longer! This is the dressing the next day. Cut kernels off corn cobs if using fresh corn. So easy to make, and it was also my first time poaching chicken. Add the pasta to pot and cook according to the directions on the package. Top with tomatoes. Now, I usually pulse that mixture first to chop the tomatoes, but for the purposes of demonstration, I added 1 cup of extra virgin olive oil. If you're lucky enough to have leftovers, it's pretty delicious heated up the day after too. Salting the water helps infuse the pasta with flavor so dont skip this step! We cant have our usual restaurant lunches or pot lucks at members houses so we bring our own and sit in a big, big circle outside. Make sure the dish has completely cooled to room temperature before storing it in the refrigerator. Also, cold pasta is drier. Prepare pasta according to package directions. Mince basil and set aside. Refrigerate until ready to use. Hi, I'm Tamsin! Toss to combine. Be sure to FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM, and TWITTERfor more great recipe ideas! My taste tester loves it. Every single person loved it and commented on it. Toss well to combine. 1) In a large skillet, on medium heat saut garlic and sun-dried tomatoes in the olive oil. Instead of a mayo-based dressing, this recipe uses a sun-dried tomato vinaigrette with red wine vinegar for a lighter taste. Feel free to use penne, elbow noodles, or fusilli instead. This is a perfect side dish for a gourmet sandwich or burger! In the last 2 minutes of cooking, add frozen peas and corn (if using frozen). Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, marinated sun-dried tomatoes and their flavorful oil can be used in easy sheet pan dinners, where the oil helps crisp up vegetables or even gnocchi. This is wonderful! Run cool water over the top and drain completely. Bring a pot of salted water to a rolling boil and cook tortellini according to package directions. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package instructions; drain well. Join for free! Throw in 3 or 4 cloves of peeled garlic. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 The Recipe Rebel. Add in the basil and stir. Boil the orzo until al dente, according to package directions. Glad you are home safe and sound! I love all your recipes. All rights reserved. Add in drained pasta and mix well. Drizzle the dressing over the pasta salad and serve. None of the dressing components need to be refrigerated on their own (if you leave the sun-dried tomato oil in the sealed jar with the tomatoes) so maybe just bring the ingredients with you and mix it straight into the pasta when youre ready to eat it? Delicious! I have found that removing the pits from Kalamata olives disrupts my Fourth of July joy. For ease, I use Marzetti Sweet Italian dressing, which to me matches the Sams Club flavor. 2023 Pinch me, I'm eating Sage Theme by Restored 316. You can add it to pasta sauces, dressings or marinades. This pasta salad is the child born of those two parents. Do you microwave the frozen corn and peas or do they thaw fine in the fridge and dont make it runny from the water? Required fields are marked *. According to Google, there are 433 million results when youre searching for a Pasta Salad. You have no idea how happy it makes me that someone whos actually had the original pasta salad made (and enjoyed) this recipe! Lots of love from Singapore . Then Barefoot Contessa came into my life. This Tortellini Caprese Pasta Salad is hands down the most popular on the site, but this recipe is up there as well for me! cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes (from a jar of drained, oil-packed sun dried tomatoes) cup chopped, pitted Kalamata olives 5 teaspoons finely minced garlic ( 3 - 4 large cloves) 1 cup toasted pine nuts 1 head of radicchio, cored and roughly chopped (about 2 cups) 1 cups chopped arugula (about 3 ounces) Thank you for another winner! Hence why I will be cooking this to take with me for lunch when I go out. Step 3. It is always a hit and we love having leftovers, too! Bring a large pot of salted water (about 1 tablespoon kosher salt to 4 quarts water) to a boil. Reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water before draining the pasta. Grilled Chicken Pasta Salad with Kalamata Olives, Capers and Sun Dried Tomatoes Carrie's Experimental Kitchen. Your email address will not be published. Stir, toss, and shake the nuts a few times as the skillet heats up and continue to do so until the nuts are golden-brown and toasted, 4 to 7 minutes. Step 5 In a separate bowl whisk together the mayonnaise, garlic, white wine vinegar, and water. Just stir it every so often to keep it looking fresh. granulated sugar (optional, but it adds a nice sweetness), crushed red pepper flakes OR freshly ground black pepper (more or less to taste), (1) 12 ounce container marinated mozzarella balls, removed from oil, fresh basil, thinly sliced (1 really big handful). Let me know in the comments or tag me on Instagram @cupfulofkale, Fried Cajun Popcorn Tofu with Creamy Cajun Maple Ranch. Your email address will not be published. In a large bowl, combine pesto and Greek yogurt and stir until well blended. Combine dressing ingredients in a jar or bottle with a lid and shake well to combine. Sun dried tomatoes are packed with umami flavour, that rich, savoury yumminess that makes you want more and more. If youre making this ahead of time store it in the fridge but leave it out for half an hour or so beforehand to come to room temperature. Toss to coat. Rinsing will help it cool down faster and get rid of excess starch. Taste dressing to check for desired saltiness. Honestly pasta salads are some of my favorite things to have in the fridge, like this easy Greek pasta salad or this creamy balsamic Caprese pasta salad. Heat 1/8 cup olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat; add garlic and saut until golden brown. Cut the asparagus into bite sized pieces. Serve salad at room temperature or cover and refrigerate to serve . For frozen corn, add the kernels to the water with the pasta for the last 2 minutes of cooking, along with the frozen peas. Return the chicken to the skillet and finish cooking it. Want to enjoy the things you love about dining out while youre eating in? Boil for 12 minutes, or according to the directions on . Overcooked noodles will quickly get mushy in this salad, and that would be a shame! Will make again. When pasta is cooked, drain and toss with spinach to wilt. I cant wait to add in the other things later and try it again. Slow Cooker Chicken and Mushroom Stroganoff. This 20-Minute Tomato, Basil, and Mozzarella Pasta Salad is fresh, fast, and flavorful! Thanks, Karly! Storing this pasta salad: this salad is best eaten within 3-4 days of preparing it. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. (Makes 1 1/4 cups pesto.). Combine basil, pine nuts, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a small bowl; set pesto aside. Season dressing with salt and pepper. If there is, continue blending. Drain the pasta. I also throw in olives but thats because I love them. Cook Time: 15 minutes. Pulse, scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally, until a coarse paste forms, 20 to 25 pulses. Restrictions apply. Make Ahead: The sun-dried tomato pesto can be made up to 1 week in advance and refrigerated in an airtight container. Has anyone tried making this with rocket instead of spinach? I love this pasta salad as is, but I love to change it up from time to time with the addition of the following: HUNGRY FOR MORE? This is definitely a great recipe for that plus if you cook it in advance then all the flavors get an extra chance to meld together! It's ok to do that with the spinach already mixed in as well. Drain and rinse the pasta and thawed frozen veggies. (I drain the tomatoes first.). 2. Honey Whipped Goat Cheese on Butter-Fried Toast, Creamy Bacon, Mushroom, & Parmesan Tortellini Soup, Salisbury Steak with Mushroom & Shallot Gravy. Your email address will not be published. Not that the men even eat this salad anyway. I added some grilled veggies and artichoke hearts. Here are some of my favorites to try with this. Bowtie Pasta Salad With Basil & Sundried Tomatoes Serving Size: 0.5 Cup (4oz.) Pulse for around 1 minute or until you have a thick paste. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Storage - tastes even better the next day! They dont. Thank you so much, Nina! This Italian Tortellini Salad is made with classic Italian flavors, but you can mix it up to suit your own flavor preference. . Youll want to use sun dried tomatoes in oil for this recipe get good quality ones if you can. Like, fragrance to the max. I love that you can eat this at room temperature. Caprese Pasta Salad with Sun-dried Tomatoes. Finely grate 1 ounce Parmesan cheese (about 1/2 packed cup) or measure out 1/3 cup store-bought grated. This tenderizes the kale. So much better than store-bought ones! 3) Add the chicken to the skillet and cook on high heat. This looks SO good, and I love that its a little different from the usual cold pasta salad. Gently toss to coat. Enjoy! Add 1 pound dried penne pasta to the boiling water and . Great Recipe! 2) Season sliced chicken with salt and paprika. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat. I must try this soon! How many days do you think I could make the dressing in advance? 1 4 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced ; 1 2 cup orzo pasta; 3 tablespoons pine nuts; 3 tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes, chopped ; 2 tablespoons capers; 1 3 cup green olives, chopped ; 6 kalamata olives, sliced ; 3 tablespoons parmesan cheese, shaved (to garnish) 1 lemon, juice and zest of ; 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard; 1 2 teaspoon honey Last time I made this Julie W. chopped three jars of tomatoes for me! As the pasta cooks, it absorbs some of the water, so adding salt also adds flavor to the noodles as well as keeping them from sticking together. With the food processor running, slowly pour the olive oil. In a large pot, boil 4 cups water. Okay, now that thats over with, let me show you my favorite chick food pasta saladthe one I always make on Fourth of July. Please see my full disclaimer policy for details. Pasta salads are my love language. That means if you click on the link and make a purchase, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Theyre way too busy putting jalapeno poppers on their cheeseburgers and trying to figure out the cattle market. Made this a few times now. I cannot wait to make this again. Sprinkle the pine nuts overtop and serve. As always if you make this vegan sun dried tomato pesto pasta salad be sure to leave me a comment, rate this recipe and tag me onInstagram. Start Free Trial Categories Deli Deli Salads Deli Salads ReadyMeals Basil Pasta W/sundried Tomato Cold - 1 Lb ($6.99 / Lb) Love this recipe however, my husband is allergic to fresh garlic, what would be a good substitute? Youll need a jar of sundried tomatoes packed in oil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente; drain, then pour pasta into a large bowl. I see now what I cant have this at Beyond Bread the garlic! Im not sure if they do use garlic in their actual recipe you may want to ask them just in case! *You can use any combination of olives here. Thank you so much for your support, it helps me keep Must Love Garlic up and running! 4. Im probably doing myself a major disservice here by saying that its light on fresh veggies, it doesnt make it sound very summery, does it? As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases. Delicious and easy to makeI added grape tomatoes for color and used balsamic vinegarmaybe a little more balsamic! 1. Just be sure to cover it well and store it in the fridge. Instructions. Its one of my favorites too, and the leftovers never last long enough! 300 g penne pasta. Red onion: Thinly sliced, this gives the salad a nice kick. 3. Pulse until mixture forms a paste, about 5 pulses. It will definitely be a regular at our table. 35 min. Youre right that it tastes exactly the same but slightly better. Just wondering how long you think the pasta will keep for? FOR THE PEAS: Add frozen peas to the pasta water in the last 2 minutes of cooking to thaw them out. Theres nothing like it in the world. Drain pasta, and return to pot. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hello! Plus, who doesnt love a big bowl cold tomato basil pasta salad waiting for them in their fridge?! Once water is boiling, add spaghetti to pot. Pour in the oil and continue to blend until smooth. Im so happy to hear it, Nicole! Here, sun-dried tomatoes are celebrated in a cheesy pesto thats the perfect pairing for al dente penne pasta. Sorry. Set these ingredients to the side. Add the chopped spinach (if using) and toss again. I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if youre short on time and cost conscious. This looks great and your pictures are beautiful! Tag @thereciperebel or hashtag #thereciperebel I love to see what youre making! Add basil, parsley, feta, and dill; gently fold into pasta. In a medium size bowl, whisk together the pesto, yogurt, and olive oil. GET MORE VEGAN RECIPES SENT STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX SUBSCRIBEHERE? Im sure you can add the salt and pepper into the vinegar beforehand without any issues if its easier to transport like that. How much pesto would you use if subbing? This dish would work well with some bread on the side too, try my classic Garlic Bread, these Homemade Garlic Herb Dinner Rolls, or this No Knead Artisan Bread. The star of this big, juicy Pasta Salad is the dressing its made using the flavour infused oil from the Sun Dried Tomatoes. 1 (8.5 oz.) Did you try this recipe? Finely mince sun dried tomatoes and set aside. Stir in yogurt until well combined. Set aside or in the fridge until needed. My GOSH, is it ever good. And make no mistake: this makes a LOT of pasta salad. In the bowl of a food processor or blender, combine the basil, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, sugar (if using), salt, and pepper. I took it to a cookout and they gobbled it up! Which makes them great for packing flavour into recipes. Add the garlic to the food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped, about 6 pulses. 1 tsp mixed dried herbs (Note 1) 3/4 tsp salt 1/2 tsp pepper Instructions Drain oil from the jar of sun dried tomatoes. Youll want to slice the cherry tomatoes in half; thinly slice the basil and thinly slice the red onion. When ready to serve toss pasta salad with dressing. If you love sun-dried tomatoes, you will love these Breakfast Sandwiches, Turkey Burgers as well as this Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta. Pantry Pasta is Sheela Prakashs monthly column of easy, accessible pasta recipes. In a large bowl combine the pasta, asparagus, red onion and sun dried tomatoes. Make it in under 30 minutes and serve cold or room temperature! We had a great time meeting you in person too! Such a small world. Toss until combined. Grab some basil leavesas few or as many as you like. When it comes to preparing summer recipes, ease and presentation are important factors. Gosh, these tomatoes were flavorful. Restaurants are a great source of inspiration for sure! Check them out as well! Ripe Cherry Tomatoes (cut In Halves) 10 leaves Basil (10-15 Leaves), Chopped Or Julienne 1 1/2 c. Parmesan Cheese, Freshly Grated Directions Source: Barefoot Contessa Dressing: In a blender combine sundried tomatoes, garlic, salt, pepper, and vinegar until tomatoes are chopped. Just tomatoes and baby spinach which does wilt once dressed but then seemingly becomes more integrated into the pasta salad, rather than being off-puttingly limp like when its in a normal salad. 1 (8-oz.) This recipe is quick and easy to make. Pour in the creamy pesto mix and toss to fully coat the pasta. Full instructions are included in the recipe card below. Can I tell you a little secret? Massage kale in between fingers with a bit of extra virgin olive oil for 1-2 minutes before adding to salad. Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.