Bowtie Salad Primavera With Fresh Basil and Toasted Pine Nuts

Colorful vegetables of all kinds make flavorful partners for Italy’s countless pasta dishes. In fact, the term “primavera,” a popular culinary term, refers to the flavorful cooked vegetables tossed with pasta. This delicious salad combines the convenience, nutrition and full flavor of canned diced red tomatoes and ripe olives, with summer-fresh zucchini, spinach and basil, all tossed with bowtie pasta. Among the nutrition benefits: canned tomatoes deliver health benefits from beta carotene, lycopene, vitamin C and more! Tip: This easy, make-ahead salad can travel safely to warm-weather picnics.

• Ready In: 25 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1  lb farfalle pasta (bowtie)
• 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 2  small zucchini, sliced
• 1 (2 1/2ounce) can  sliced black olives, drained
• 1⁄2 cup  sliced green onion
• 2  garlic cloves, minced
• 1⁄2 cup  balsamic vinaigrette
• 1⁄2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 2  cups  Baby Spinach, slightly chopped
• 1⁄2 cup  chopped fresh basil
• 1⁄3 cup  toasted pine nuts
• 1⁄4 cup  freshly grated parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Cook pasta as directed on the package until tender but firm. Rinse with cold water; drain. Toss pasta with tomatoes, zucchini, olives, green onions, garlic, vinaigrette and red pepper flakes. Cover and chill, if desired, for up to 24 hours. Just before serving, add spinach and basil; toss gently. Top with pine nuts and Parmesan cheese. *For convenience use canned tomatoes with garlic in place of plain diced tomatoes and garlic.
2. Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories 400; Total fat 8g (Saturated fat 1.5g); Cholesterol 5mg; Sodium 600mg; Carbohydrate 69g; Fiber 4g; Protein 14g.