Bow Tie Pasta Salad
This colorful bow tie pasta salad is perfect for summer gatherings, offering a fresh and vibrant combination of ingredients that's ideal for meal prep.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes sliced in half
- 1 cup fresh spinach tightly packed and finely chopped
- 1 cup bocconcini cheese halved
- 1/4 cup red onion diced
- 1/2 cup fresh basil chopped
- 12 ounces dry bow tie pasta (about 4 cups)
- 1/2 medium lemon juice of half
- 3 tablespoons pesto sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
For Pasta Preparation:
- Fill a large pot with water, bring it to a vigorous boil, and add salt. Cook the bow tie pasta until it is slightly softer than al dente, following the package instructions. Drain the pasta and immediately toss it with a bit of olive oil to prevent sticking. Allow it to cool down to room temperature, or briefly rinse with cold water if needed.
For the Dressing and Assembly:
- In a small bowl or jar, whisk together pesto, olive oil, and lemon juice until the mixture is smooth and well blended.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta with halved cherry tomatoes, diced red onion, bocconcini, chopped spinach, and basil. Carefully mix the ingredients to ensure even distribution.
- Drizzle the pesto dressing over the pasta salad, season with salt and pepper, and toss gently to evenly coat the ingredients. Adjust with more pesto if a saucier salad is preferred.
- This delightful pasta salad can be enjoyed immediately or covered and stored in the refrigerator for up to five days, making it perfect for meal prep.