Recipe | Pesto Pasta Salad

Pasta Salad

Family Features - From salads and snacks to breakfast, lunch and dinner, rounding out a full menu of healthy meals shouldn't be a chore. In fact, you can still enjoy your favorite flavors and tickle your taste buds with nutritious recipes that capitalize on powerful ingredients you actually want to eat. Starting the new year with fresh intentions, whether you're trying to reset for 2023 or simply add more greens to your meals, begins with delicious, nutritious and easy recipes.

This recipe is another fresh twist on pasta salad can make lunches or your evening side dish an enjoyable way to stay on track.

With more than 100 varieties of fresh, healthy and convenient ready-to-eat salads, Fresh Express provides plenty of inspiration, information and incentives to help you achieve your goals. For example, this Pesto Pasta Salad features red lentil rotini and Twisted Pesto Caesar Chopped Salad Kits loaded with a fresh blend of crisp iceberg and green leaf lettuces, crunchy garlic brioche croutons, Parmesan cheese and creamy pesto dressing. Add fresh grape tomatoes and toasted walnuts for a simple side or easy lunch that can be made ahead of time.

Pesto Pasta Salad

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Servings: 6

Here's what you'll need:

  • 1 quart cooked red lentil rotini
  • 2 packages (9 1/2 ounces each) Fresh Express Twisted Pesto Caesar Chopped Salad Kits
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 cup walnuts, toasted

    • Prepare red lentil rotini according to package directions; cool 15 minutes.

    In bowl, mix rotini and one dressing packet from salad kits. Sprinkle with salt and pepper; mix well. Refrigerate, covered, 30 minutes, or until rotini is cold.

    In large bowl, mix lettuce from both salad kits with remaining salad dressing package. Add rotini and tomatoes; toss to combine. Sprinkle with garlic brioche croutons and shredded Parmesan cheese from salad kits and walnuts.

    Substitution: Traditional rotini can be used for red lentil rotini.

    Take your better-for-you eating plan from bland and boring to delightfully delicious by visiting Culinary.net and FreshExpress.com for more inspirational meal ideas.

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    Photo of the Day | February 12, 2023

    Ty Pence, Garrett Seims, and Coy Taylor try to block a shot

    Three on 3

    ST. JOSEPH - SJO's Ty Pence, Tanner Siems, and Coy Taylor (left to right) form a defensive wall on Unity junior Andrew Thomas during first-half action on Friday. Down by two with 2:28 left in the second quarter, St. Joseph-Ogden rallied with a 13-point unanswered run to go up 35-24 on the Rockets. The Spartans improved to 24-4 with a week to play in the regular season after taking down the Rockets 67-50. The two conference foes are looking at a possible rematch, this time on a neutral court with a regional title on the line, at the Bismarck-Henning Regional on February 24.

    Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
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    *02-13-23* The caption misidentified Tanner Siems as Garrett Siems upon initial publication. The story now shows the correct name of the player in the photo.
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    Photo Gallery | Pence scores 41, Spartans grab conference win from BCC

    St. Joseph-Ogden senior Ty Pence goes up for a shot in the first half. The senior dropped 22 points in the first half to help SJO swing a three-point first quarter deficit to a seven-point advantage on the way to a 68-55 conference win. The Illinois State University recruit turned in 41 points moving to the top of the list of the Spartans' all-time leading scorers on Tuesday. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks


    Spartans' Logan Smith drives to the paint in the first half. Smith, a junior, was held to just a pair of free throws in the home game against the Saints. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks


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    Tanner Siems goes up for a shot in the third quarter. The sophomore chipped in nine points in SJO's conference victory. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks


    Trailed by teammate Ty Pence, Coy Taylor on a fast break. Taylor, who was scoreless in the first half, scored eight in the final half. The junior went 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks


    Student fans from the Maroon Platoon cheer for the Spartans in the fourth quarter.


    St. Joseph-Ogden head coach Kyle Duval claps after star player Ty Pence hits a three pointer in the fourth quarter. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks


    Spartan Tanner Seims makes a pass around two Central Catholic defenders late in the game. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks


    Seims goes up for two of his four fourth-quarter points. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks


    Ty Pence slaps hands with members of the Maroon Platoon as the last seconds tick off the game clock. Pence scored 41 points, 22 in the first half, the 13-point win over the visiting Saints. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks


    Head coach Kiel Duval congratulates senior Ty Pence for his record-breaking achievement after the game. Pence's 41-point performance brought his career-scoring total to a school-best of 2,128 points. The program's top spot, previously held by Brandon Trimble, who played for the Spartans from 2013-17, was 2,115 points. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks


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