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Arugula Lemon Pesto Pasta Salad

25-Minute Arugula Lemon Pesto Pasta Salad You’ll Devour

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A refreshing and zesty pasta salad featuring arugula lemon pesto, perfect for a light meal or side dish.

  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound whole-wheat rotini or penne pasta
  • 2 ½ cups packed baby arugula
  • ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • ¾ cup unsalted sunflower seeds
  • 5 cloves garlic
  • Zest & juice of 1 medium lemon, divided
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 (15 ounce) can no-salt-added white beans, rinsed
  • 1 cup slivered sun-dried tomatoes
  • ⅓ cup finely chopped red onion
  • Ground pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions.
  2. Combine arugula, Parmesan, sunflower seeds, garlic, lemon zest, and salt in a food processor; process until smooth.
  3. With the motor running, add lemon juice and oil; process until combined.
  4. Reserve ½ cup cooking water, then drain the pasta.
  5. Transfer the pasta to a large bowl and add the pesto, beans, sun-dried tomatoes, onion, and pepper; toss to combine.
  6. Add just enough of the reserved pasta-cooking water to get a creamy consistency; toss to coat.

Notes

  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  • Adjust lemon zest and juice to taste for more tanginess.
  • Substitute sunflower seeds with pine nuts if preferred.
  • Author: Livia Reed
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Salad
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Italian
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 420
  • Sugar: 4g
  • Sodium: 450mg
  • Fat: 22g
  • Saturated Fat: 4g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 16g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 45g
  • Fiber: 8g
  • Protein: 14g
  • Cholesterol: 10mg