This pasta salad and creamy avocado pesto is SO refreshing and SO delicious! You can add any salad veggies you desire and crispy baked salt & pepper chickpeas for some protein! In fact the chickpeas go so well with this pasta because they add a nice salty crunch! Delicious!
You could make this pasta salad the day before and take this to work/school in a lunchbox!
Keep chilled in the fridge in an air-tight container for 2 days.
Servings: people
Ingredients
- 2-3 servings rigatoni pasta
- 1/4 cucumber
- 10 cherry tomatoes
- 400 gram chickpeas drained and rinsed
- 1 sprinkle chili flakes
Instructions
- First cook the pasta according to the instructions on the packet until al dante, then drain all the water from the pan, rinse with cold water to cool the pasta down. Add the pasta to a large bowl set aside .
- Prepare your salad vegetables for the pasta salad by dicing and slicing them up, then stir them in with your pasta.
- To make the pesto, add all the pesto ingredients into a jug, then using a hand stick blender, blend everything until smooth and creamy. Taste to see if you need to add more salt.
- Stir the pesto into the pasta salad until the pasta is completely saturated, sprinkle with dried chilli flakes for a little kick. Enjoy!
If you would like to make some crispy salt & pepper chickpeas with the pasta salad:
- Preheat oven to 200c/180c fan/400f/gas mark 6. Line a baking tray with non-stick baking parchment.
- Drain & rinse a 400g can of chickpeas, then dry them with a clean tea towel or kitchen paper. Add the chickpeas to a bowl then season with plenty of sea salt and cracked black pepper. Stir everything together.
- Place your salt & pepper chickpeas onto your lined baking tray, then bake in the oven for 15 mins until the chickpeas are crispy and golden.
- Add to your pasta salad. Enjoy!
At Good Old Vegan, we believe in living a healthy vegan lifestyle, and only recommend products/services that we believe in. Occasionally, articles may contain affiliate links that earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you. This will never affects the integrity of our content.
Did you try this recipe?Mention @goodoldvegan or tag #goodoldvegan!
2 thoughts on “Pasta Salad with Creamy Avocado Pesto”
Have u used fresh basil? I have lots and would love to use some!
Personally haven’t tried that, but I’m sure it’ll work as basil is often the base of a good pesto! I’d say; go for it!
Comments are closed.