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Pasta Salad with Pesto Dressing

Pasta Salad with Pesto Dressing Recipe
A chilled pasta salad is always a treat, especially when tossed in this piquant basil dressing.

Ingredients

Pesto Dressing
 1 cup fresh parsley
 ½ cup pine nuts or raw cashews
 2 garlic cloves, pressed
 ¼ cup chopped fresh basil or more to taste
 ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese (or nondairy substitute)
 ¼ cup water
 1 cup eggless mayonnaise
 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
 Salt and pepper to taste
Salad
 1 ½ cups frozen green peas, thawed
 1 pound fusilli, cooked, rinsed and drained
 ½ cup sliced scallions
 1 cup pitted black olives
 1 cup halved tomatoes
Note
 for a gluten-free alternative, use a similarly shaped gluten-free pasta.

Instructions

Dressing
1

Combine first 6 ingredients in a blender or food processor and whirl until pureed.

2

Add eggless mayonnaise and lemon juice. Process until well blended. Season with salt and pepper.

Salad
3

Drain peas. Combine with other salad ingredients in a large serving bowl.

4

Pour pesto dressing over the salad and toss gently. Serve at room temperature.

Note: Fresh basil is always preferred in pesto recipes.

Serves 8

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Ingredients

Pesto Dressing
 1 cup fresh parsley
 ½ cup pine nuts or raw cashews
 2 garlic cloves, pressed
 ¼ cup chopped fresh basil or more to taste
 ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese (or nondairy substitute)
 ¼ cup water
 1 cup eggless mayonnaise
 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
 Salt and pepper to taste
Salad
 1 ½ cups frozen green peas, thawed
 1 pound fusilli, cooked, rinsed and drained
 ½ cup sliced scallions
 1 cup pitted black olives
 1 cup halved tomatoes
Note
 for a gluten-free alternative, use a similarly shaped gluten-free pasta.

Directions

Dressing
1

Combine first 6 ingredients in a blender or food processor and whirl until pureed.

2

Add eggless mayonnaise and lemon juice. Process until well blended. Season with salt and pepper.

Salad
3

Drain peas. Combine with other salad ingredients in a large serving bowl.

4

Pour pesto dressing over the salad and toss gently. Serve at room temperature.

Note: Fresh basil is always preferred in pesto recipes.

Serves 8

Pasta Salad with Pesto Dressing