Pesto Pasta Salad With Roasted Bell Peppers Recipes

SWEET PEPPER PESTO PASTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Toss peppers with oil and garlic powder; spread evenly in a greased 15x10x1-in. pan. Roast until tender, 10-15 minutes. Cool slightly., Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain; rinse with cold water and drain. Place in a large bowl., Stir in pesto, olives and peppers. Refrigerate, covered, until serving. Sprinkle with cheese.

ROASTED-PEPPER PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. Shake off the excess water. Meanwhile, place the bell peppers cut-side down on a foil-lined broiler pan, add the garlic and broil until charred, 7 to 8 minutes. Transfer the peppers to a bowl, cover and set aside about 5 minutes. Heat a dry skillet over medium-high heat. Add the almonds and toast, shaking the pan, 4 to 5 minutes. Let cool, then coarsely chop. Squeeze the garlic from its skin onto a cutting board. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt; mince and mash the garlic into a paste with a large knife. Peel the roasted peppers and slice into strips; transfer to a large bowl. Add the garlic paste and drizzle with the olive oil. Finely grate about 1 teaspoon lemon zest into the bowl and squeeze in all of the lemon juice. Add the bocconcini, basil, almonds, pasta, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste; toss.
• Photographs by Antonis Achilleos

PESTO PASTA SALAD WITH ROASTED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Cut bell peppers in half, remove the seeds and the stems.
• Place it in a small baking pan and drizzle with olive oil.
• Roast in the oven at 250°C for about 20 minutes or until peels are black.
• Peel the peppers, julienne and set aside.
• Cook pasta according to package directions, drain and cool.
• Pour in pesto to cooled pasta, add parmesan cheese.
• Mix together and make sure each pasta is coated with sauce.
• sprinkle salt to taste
• Add olives and roasted red bell peppers and mix again.
• Chill before serving.

PASTA SALAD WITH ZESTY PESTO AND PAN-ROASTED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Cook and stir peppers in large nonstick skillet on high heat 7 min. or until crisp-tender; cool.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta as directed on package, omitting salt. Rinse with cold water; drain. Place in large bowl.
• Mix pesto and dressing. Add to pasta along with the peppers; mix lightly. Top with cheese.

ROAST PEPPER PESTO WITH PASTA

Steps:

• Remove the skin from the roasted garlic cloves. In the small bowl of a food processor, whizz the roasted peppers, garlic, cayenne, almonds, Parmesan and oil until it makes a rough pesto consistency. Taste and season.
• Bring a pan of water to the boil and cook the pasta following pack instructions. Drain, reserving a little cooking water. Return the pasta to the pan with the pesto, basil and a little of the cooking water, then heat through. Serve with extra Parmesan, if you like.

ROASTED RED PEPPER & PARSLEY PESTO WITH PENNE

Steps:

• Cook the pasta following pack instructions. Meanwhile, put the peppers, parsley, nuts, garlic and olive oil in a small food processor or mini chopper, and whizz to a pesto consistency. Season and mix in the Parmesan.
• Drain the pasta and return to the pan with the pesto. Stir and gently heat for 1 min, then sprinkle with a little more chopped parsley and serve.