This cold pesto pasta salad is an easy and healthy summer recipe. With tomatoes, prawns and rocket then tossed with pesto it's a delicious and quick recipe.
Just squeezing in one last summer recipe before it's time for comfort food ☀
It's still a bit sunny here and we're off on holiday next week so I'm definitely still feeling in the summer spirit and wanting to eat summer food like this.
I eat pasta salad all summer long and this one has some of my favourite ingredients in it including super sweet cherry tomatoes, pesto and prawns.
It's so easy to make and keeps well in the fridge so it's a dream for a quick dinner with leftovers the next day. I like to get mostly ready made or prepared ingredients.
I get cooked prawns and store bought pesto but you could make both from scratch if you prefer.
Why we love this pesto pasta salad...
It's so quick to make especially with the help of ready cooked prawns and store bought pesto all you need to do is boil some pasta and you've got dinner on the table
It keeps well in the fridge so you could make it on a Sunday and keep it for lunches and dinners throughout the rest of the week
It's healthy thanks to the greens and tomatoes plus the prawns are low in fat and a great source of protein
Prawn Pasta Salad Ingredients
Pasta: A short cut pasta works best, I went with fusilli
Prawns: I used ready cooked prawns but you could also cook your own raw ones if you prefer
Cherry Tomatoes: Get the multi colour ones if you can, they look so pretty!
Pesto: I used store bought but feel free to make your own if you prefer
Rocket: Or arugula for a peppery bite
Parmesan: Grated and stirred through before serving
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How to make prawn pesto pasta
Cook the pasta: In salted water until it's cooked then drain and run under cold water.
Make the salad: Toss the pasta, prawns, cherry tomatoes, rocket, pesto, lemon juice, garlic, chilli flakes and parmesan together and season well before serving.
Equipment you need to make this recipe...
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Want more? Try these other pasta salad recipes!
- Five Ingredient Chickpea Pasta with Arugula and Feta
- Vegan Pasta Salad with Creamy Tahini Sauce
- Lemony Orzo Summer Squash Salad
- Orzo Pasta Salad with Salmon
- Cold Spaghetti Salad
- Tuna Pasta Salad with Feta & Pine Nuts
- Smoked Mackerel Pasta Salad with Asparagus
Pesto Pasta Salad with Prawns
Ingredients
- 300 g Pasta
- 150 g Prawns
- 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 2 cloves Garlic crushed
- ¼ teaspoon Chilli Flakes
- 250 g Cherry Tomatoes halved
- 4 tablespoon Pesto
- 100 g Rocket
- ½ Lemon
- 30 g Parmesan grated
- Salt and Pepper
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to packet instructions in salted water. Drain and run under cold water until cooled.
- Add the pasta, prawns, cherry tomatoes, rocket, pesto, lemon juice, garlic, chilli flakes and parmesan to a bowl, season well with salt and pepper and toss everything together.
Notes
Like the look of this recipe? Make sure you pin it for later!
Angela says
What a gorgeous salad! This is absolutely perfect for the summer. Love all of the fresh flavors and colors. Can't wait to try this. Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Natalie says
I love pesto pasta! Looks so delicious and light - perfect for a balanced dinner or lunch ♥
Danielle says
The summer is gone but I am still looking for summer recipes like this. Simple and easy - what else do you need, right? 🙂 !
Paula Montenegro says
With or without the prawns, this pasta salad can become one of my favorites really fast. Beautiful recipe!