20-Minute SPICY show-stopper Pesto Pasta Salad
Spice up your traditional pasta salad with this vibrant and flavourful recipe! It's perfect for any gathering, loaded with fresh summer ingredients and a touch of heat. For those moments when you want to impress your friends and family with flavour, but a minimal amount of work, we got you covered.
Serves: 6-8
Prep Time: 5-10 minutes
Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
Your List of Ingredients
For the Pesto:
2 cups fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup walnuts
2 garlic cloves
1/3 cup olive oil
2-3 tablespoons Gladstones Honey Heat Sauce as desired
Juice of half a lemon
Salt and pepper to taste
For the Pasta Salad:
1 box (454g) of Gemelli pasta (or your favourite pasta shape)
1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
2 cups arugula
8 oz fresh mozzarella, cut into small cubes or torn into small pieces
For the Salami Chips:
4 oz thinly sliced salami
To Serve:
Fresh basil leaves
Grated Parmesan cheese
Gladstone Honey Heat Sauce
Let’s Get Started
Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente, ensuring not to overcook! Drain and rinse under cold water to cool. Set aside.
In a food processor, combine the basil leaves, grated Parmesan, walnuts, lemon juice, and garlic. Pulse until well combined. With the processor running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until the pesto reaches your desired consistency, it should be nice and smooth. Add in Gladstone Honey Heat Sauce, salt, and pepper to taste. Pulse to combine. Adjust seasoning if necessary. Set aside.
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Arrange the salami slices in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place another piece of parchment paper on top and another baking sheet on top to keep them flat. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the salami is crispy. Remove from the oven and let cool on a paper towel-lined plate.
In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta with the pesto and toss until well coated. Add in the cherry tomatoes, arugula, and fresh mozzarella.
Just before serving, break the cooled salami chips into smaller pieces and sprinkle them over the pasta salad.
Garnish with fresh basil leaves and an extra generous drizzle of Gladstone Honey Heat Sauce.
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You can make the pasta salad a day in advance, simply mix the pasta and pesto and set aside in the fridge. Add in all of the fresh ingredients just before serving. This also makes a great summer weeknight meal, served with your favourite grilled meats!
If you want to save time, you can use store-bought pesto instead of making your own. I recommend @Verilykitchen (https://verilykitchen.com/) I love their pesto pouches for a quick pesto fix! So grab your pesto and your Gladstone Honey Heat and make this killer pest salad for your next BBQ!!
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