Pesto Pasta Salad with Cherry Tomatoes, Avocado & Chickpeas
 

Pesto Pasta Salad with Cherry Tomatoes, Avocado & Chickpeas

This amazing pasta salad is bursting with fresh flavor. It’s easy to make, and easy to change it up if you want - use walnuts or almonds in the pesto instead of pine nuts. Prepare your pesto with kale, broccoli, parsley, cilantro or even beet greens instead of spinach. Try it with a gluten-free pasta.

INGREDIENTS

PASTA:

1 pound pasta shells

1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1/4 cup red onion, finely diced

2 avocados, peeled, seeded and diced

1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved

1 cup torn spinach leaves

SPINACH BASIL PESTO:

2 cups packed fresh spinach leaves

2 cups packed fresh basil leaves

1 clove garlic

1/4 cup pine nuts

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (or nutritional yeast for a vegan version)

2 tablespoons water

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

 

INSTRUCTIONS

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add pasta and a pinch of kosher salt. Cook for about 8 minutes or until al dente (do not overcook). Drain, coat with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil so it doesn't stick together and set aside to cool.

Drain and rinse can of chickpeas. Dice red onion and avocados. Slice cherry tomatoes in half. Tear spinach leaves into bite size pieces. Set aside.

To prepare pesto, combine the spinach, basil, garlic, pine nuts, grated Parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast and water in a food processor or blender and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add the olive oil and process until fully incorporated and smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

In a large bowl, combine pesto and pasta and toss to coat. Gently stir in remaining ingredients.

Serve at room temperature or cover and refrigerate and serve chilled.

  PRINT VERSION

vegetable plate

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