Red pesto pasta salad with bacon
Indulge in the rich flavors of red pesto pasta salad with crispy bacon. A perfect balance of savory and tangy notes in every bite.
Ingredients:
- 250 grams (8.8 oz) pasta
- 50 grams (1.8 oz) shaved Parmesan
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, more for serving
- 200 grams (7 oz) salted bacon bits
- oil from the sun-dried tomatoes
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons capers
- salt + black pepper
- red pesto
- 150 grams (5.3 oz) sun-dried tomatoes, drained
- 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/2 cup basil leaves
- 20 grams (0.7 oz) toasted pine nuts
- 20 grams (0.7 oz) grated Parmesan
- 1/4 cup oil from the sun-dried tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions:
- Place the pasta into a large pot of boiling water with a generous amount of salt. Cook until it is firm but not hard. Then, drain the water from the pot.
- While waiting for the pasta to cook, prepare the red pesto. Put all the ingredients into a food processor or a blender. Mix them until they are well combined, but still a bit chunky. If the mixture seems too dry or thick, pour in a few tablespoons of water.
- Create the caper breadcrumbs by warming a large skillet on medium-high heat. Put in 2 tablespoons of oil followed by the panko and capers. Stir occasionally as you cook the breadcrumbs until they turn golden brown, which should take about 3 minutes. Add red pepper flakes, then season with 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper. Continue cooking for an additional minute before transferring the breadcrumbs to a plate.
- Using the same skillet, heat up another 2 tablespoons of oil over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook it until it's crispy and a lovely golden brown color, stirring now and then for roughly 5 minutes.
- Combine the cooked pasta and 3-4 generous tablespoons of red pesto in a mixing bowl. Toss everything together. Incorporate the bacon, shaved Parmesan, and breadcrumbs into the pasta mixture. Toss again to make sure everything is well mixed. Sprinkle some red pepper flakes and additional black pepper on top. Serve and enjoy right away. For the best taste and texture, consume at room temperature.
Summary:
- Calories: 3130 kcal
- Fat: 139 g
- Protein: 161 g
- Carbs: 322 g
- Potassium: 7905 mg
- Magnesium: 626 mg