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Healthy Pasta Salad

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Ingredients

Warning0 allergens identified

Healthy Pasta Salad

2 vine tomatoes

1 bulb garlic

1 tbsp olive oil

½ oz Parmesan cheese

1 ¾ ounces dried tomatoes

¾ oz fresh basil

3 ½ ounces arugula

3 ½ ounces dry whole-wheat pasta

8 ¾ ounces cherry tomatoes

4 ¼ ounces mozzarella balls

Preheat the oven to 200°C (390°F). Wash the tomatoes, halve them, and place them cut-side up in an ovenproof dish. Cut off the top of the garlic bulb, drizzle it with oil, and rub it in with your hands. Wrap the garlic bulb in aluminum foil and place it in the oven along with the tomatoes.

Remove the tomatoes from the oven after 20 minutes and let them cool, roast the garlic for another 20 minutes.

Peel the skins off the cooled tomatoes and place the pulp in a food processor or blender. Squeeze three to four garlic cloves from the bulb and add them. Chop or grate the Parmesan cheese, add it along with the remaining ingredients, and blend until smooth.

Cook the pasta according to the package instructions, drain, and then cool under cold water.

Thoroughly wash the arugula, spin it dry, and place it in a large bowl. Wash the tomatoes, drain the mozzarella balls, halve both, and add them to the arugula. Finely chop the sun-dried tomatoes and add them as well.

Thoroughly mix the salad, pasta, and pesto. Garnish with a few fresh basil leaves and serve.

Nutrition

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Shock Your Pasta 🧊
After cooking whole-wheat pasta al dente, immediately transfer it to an ice bath to stop the cooking process and prevent mushiness, then toss with a light drizzle of olive oil to prevent sticking.
Make Fresh Red Pesto Base 🌿
Blend fresh basil with roasted garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and a touch of grated Parmesan before adding olive oil slowly—this emulsifies the dressing and prevents separation while intensifying Mediterranean flavors.
Dress While Warm ⏰
Toss the cooled pasta with your pesto dressing while it's still slightly warm to allow better absorption of flavors, then add fresh tomatoes and arugula just before serving to maintain their texture and vibrancy.
Balance Your Acidity 🍅
Reserve some juice from the sun-dried tomatoes to add to your dressing—this concentrated umami balances the earthiness of whole-wheat pasta and brightens the overall dish without extra vinegar.
Add Cheese Strategically 🧀
Grate Parmesan fresh and reserve mozzarella balls for assembly just before serving; this prevents the cheeses from breaking down in the dressing and maintains their distinct creamy and sharp flavors throughout.