Pesto, Pepper and Sopressato Pasta Salad
Pesto, Pepper and Sopressato Pasta Salad - perfect for picnics, parties and potlucks!
Calories:
Ingredients
- 1 pound pasta* cooked according to package directions and drained
- ⅓ cup pesto
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or a bit more if the pesto is really thick
- 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes halved
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cut in ½-inch pieces
- ½ large bell pepper diced small, I used golden, but any color bell pepper is fine
- 4 ounces Sopressata** thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
- fresh herb leaves for garnish if desired
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions or until al dente. Drain well and drizzle with a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. (This will prevent pasta from sticking together) Toss well to coat with oil and allow to cool to lukewarm.
- Combine pesto and olive oil and stir well with a small whisk or a fork. Set aside.
- Add all other ingredients to pasta and stir gently to distribute ingredients. Drizzle with the pesto/olive oil mixture, sprinkle with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper and stir again. Serve at room temperature. If making ahead, refrigerate until one hour before serving. Bring to room temperature and drizzle with a bit of extra virgin olive oil just before serving. Garnish with fresh herb leaves if desired.
Notes
Notes:
* ~ I love to find fun shaped pasta. The one I used for this salad is called torchio (resembling little torches) gigli, orecchiette, farfalle, conchiglie or radiotori would also work wonderful. Feel free to use your own favorite.
** ~ Sopressato is an aged Italian salami which is available in many larger groceries in the deli section. I used the Boars Head brand which is very delicious and comes, prepackaged in a 9-ounce portion. It's about 1-inch in diameter and works well, sliced thin in this salad. You could also cube it or quarter the slices if the diameter is larger. It comes in "sweet" and "hot" varieties. We like the "sweet" but choose according to your palate.
* ~ I love to find fun shaped pasta. The one I used for this salad is called torchio (resembling little torches) gigli, orecchiette, farfalle, conchiglie or radiotori would also work wonderful. Feel free to use your own favorite.
** ~ Sopressato is an aged Italian salami which is available in many larger groceries in the deli section. I used the Boars Head brand which is very delicious and comes, prepackaged in a 9-ounce portion. It's about 1-inch in diameter and works well, sliced thin in this salad. You could also cube it or quarter the slices if the diameter is larger. It comes in "sweet" and "hot" varieties. We like the "sweet" but choose according to your palate.