Spinach And Pasta Salad With Pesto

1. 1

   Bring large pot of water to boil. Add pasta and cook for recommended time.

2. 2

   While the pasta is cooking, add 2/3 of the spinach into a food processor. Add olive oil, walnuts, garlic and salt. Process until you get desired texture - I prefer some slight chunks but you can also process it very smooth.

3. 3

   When pasta is done cooking, drain and rinse or shock pasta in cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta. Put pasta into a large salad bowl.

4. 4

   Add 2/3 of spinach pesto mixture to pasta and stir to coat. Sprinkle in 3/4 of the cheese while mixing to distribute. Check seasoning and add salt or more cheese if necessary. If taking this to a potluck, here is a good stopping point. You can dress the salad and toss all the ingredients together right before serving to make sure the spinach doesn't wilt.

5. 5

   Add rest of spinach to bowl and most of tomatoes. Squeeze a little lemon juice onto leaves and add the rest of the pesto and a sprinkling of salt. Toss leaves to coat.

6. 6

   Bring pasta up from bottom and toss with greens. Add remaining tomatoes, pine nuts and cheese before serving.

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.