Dinner, Lunch, Pasta, Salads, Sides

Pesto Pasta Salad



Ingredients

For Pesto Sauce:
1/2 cup macadamia nuts, lightly toasted
3 cloves garlic
1 1/2 cups cilantro leaves
1/2 cup goat cheese
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 to 2 jalapenos, seeded and roughly chopped
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons lime juice

For Pasta:
1 pound “funny shaped” pasta, cooked (I usually use orenchetti or some other “strange” shape, but you can use rotini too)
Parmesan cheese (optional)
4 plum tomatoes, diced

Directions

Combine all ingredients for pesto sauce in food processor, except olive oil and lime juice. Pulse to a rough paste, then pulse in olive oil and lime juice. Toss with cooked, cooled pasta and Parmesan. Fold in 3 chopped tomatoes, and scatter 4th tomato over top.

Note: this also makes a very good warm pasta side dish or even a main course.

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