NINETIES STYLE PASTA SALAD

I really do love a pasta salad. If anyone brings to a party or BBQ it’s one of the first dishes I run to. This take is truly inspired by the nineties style of Italian-esque twists on recipes. The pasta salad features the truly 90’s love sun dried tomatoes, small bocconcini, kalamata olives and of course a punchy green sauce called ‘pistou’ that brings together lots of basil leaves. It’s an incredibly easy recipe to put together, and it’s always a crowd pleaser, so if you’re lost for ideas to what to bring, look no further.

NINETIES STYLE PASTA SALAD

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NINETIES STYLE PASTA SALAD 〰️

Time: 30 minutes

Serves: 6

500gm cooked fusilli pasta

220gm mini bocconcini, torn into small pieces

280 sun dried tomatoes

500gm cherry tomatoes, halved

425gm pitted kalamata olives, roughly chopped

2 zucchinis, cubed

1 bunch basil, leaves

1 lemon, juice

3 garlic cloves

EVOO

Sea salt, to taste

Start by browning off your zucchini. Get a large heavy pan on high heat, bring up to temp, add some oil and then char the zucchini hard until you have beautiful brown chars. Remove when ready.

To make ‘pistou’ (French basil sauce) add 3/4 of your basil leaves, lemon juice, garlic cloves, a glug of EVOO and sea salt to taste in a food processor and blitz into a smooth green sauce. Add more oil and salt if you need.

In a big bowl add in your pasta, bocconcini, sun dried tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, remaining basil leaves, charred zucchini, kalamata olives and pistou green sauce and bring it all together.