Three P's Pasta Salad

I love this pasta salad!  It's super easy to make and a nice change from the ordinary pasta salad seen at cookouts.  The three P's in this salad are Pesto, Peas, Pine Nuts.  Enjoy!



Three P's Pasta Salad:

Ina Garten 2001

3/4 pound fusili pasta

3/4 pound bow-tie pasta

1/4 cup olive oil

1 1/2 cups pesto...store bought is fine

3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 1/4 cups mayonnaise

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 1/2 cups frozen peas, defrosted

1/2 cup toasted pine nuts (pignolis)

3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Cook the fusili and bow-tie separately in a large pot of boiling salted water until each is al dente, about 10-12 minutes.  Drain and toss into a bowl with the olive oil.  Cool to room temperature.

In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade, pulse together the pesto and lemon juice.  Add the mayonnaise and pulse until thoroughly combined.  

Add the pesto mixture to the cooled pasta, then add the Parmesan, cheese, peas, pine nuts, salt, and pepper.  Mix well and serve at room temperature.

Serves 12