Bow Tie Pasta Salad

This Italian-inspired bow tie pasta salad is a light, colorful, and refreshing dish made with fresh vegetables, bocconcini cheese, and basil pesto. It’s perfect for summer BBQs, potlucks, or meal prep and offers a healthy balance of fiber, healthy fats, and complex carbs in every bite.

Ingredients

• 12 oz (4 cups) dry bow tie pasta
  
  

• 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
  
  

• 1/4 cup red onion, diced
  
  

• 1 cup bocconcini cheese, halved
  
  

• 1 cup spinach, packed and finely chopped
  
  

• 1/2 cup fresh basil, finely chopped
  
  

• 3 tablespoons basil pesto
  
  

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
  
  

• Juice of 1/2 lemon
  
  

• Salt, to taste
  
  

• Black pepper, to taste
  
  

Directions

1. Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. Cook bow tie pasta in salted water until slightly past al dente. Drain and toss with a bit of olive oil. Let cool.
   
   

2. While pasta cools, whisk together pesto, olive oil, and lemon juice in a small bowl to make the dressing.
   
   

3. In a large bowl, combine cooled pasta, tomatoes, onion, cheese, spinach, and basil.
   
   

4. Pour dressing over salad, season with salt and pepper, and toss gently to combine.
   
   

5. Taste and adjust seasoning or add more pesto if desired. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
   
   

Nutritional Value by Grams (per serving)

• Calories: 236 kcal
  
  

• Carbohydrates: 35 g
  
  

• Protein: 7 g
  
  

• Fat: 8 g
  
  

• Saturated Fat: (not specified)
  
  

• Fiber: 2 g
  
  

• Sugar: 3 g
  
  

• Sodium: (not specified)