pesto pea pasta salad

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Introduction

Pesto pea pasta salad is a delicious and easy to make dish that is perfect for a summer picnic or a light lunch. It's packed with flavour from the pesto, creamy from the peas, and has a nice crunch from the vegetables. This recipe is sure to be a hit with everyone, and it's an excellent way to use up any leftover cooked pasta you may have.

Ingredients

1 cup cooked pasta
1/2 cup frozen peas
1/4 cup pesto
1/4 cup diced red onion
1/4 cup diced bell pepper
1/4 cup diced cucumber
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Cook the pasta according to the package instructions.
Once the pasta is cooked, rinse it in cold water and drain it.
In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, frozen peas, pesto, diced red onion, bell pepper, and cucumber.
Drizzle the olive oil over the top and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Stir the ingredients together until they are evenly mixed.
Serve the pasta salad chilled or at room temperature.

Tips and Tricks

For a vegan version of this recipe, use a vegan pesto.
If you don't have any cooked pasta on hand, you can quickly cook up some dried pasta according to the package instructions.
If you don't have any frozen peas, you can substitute with fresh peas or any other vegetable you have on hand.
This dish can be served warm or cold. If you're serving it warm, you can lightly sauté the vegetables in a pan before adding them to the pasta.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is pesto?

Pesto is a traditional Italian sauce made from garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, and fresh basil. It is usually served over pasta, but can also be used as a spread on sandwiches or used as a dip.

What vegetables can I use in this pasta salad?

This recipe calls for red onion, bell pepper, and cucumber, but you can use any vegetables you have on hand. Some other great options are cherry tomatoes, zucchini, or roasted red peppers.