Pasta Salad With Pesto(ATK)

This salad is best served the day it is made; if it's been refrigerated, bring it to room temperature before serving. The pesto can be made a day ahead--just cook the garlic cloves in a small saucepan of boiling water for 1 minute. Garnish with additional shaved or grated Parmesan.

• Ready In: 53 mins
• Serves: 8-10

Ingredients

• 3⁄4 cup pine nuts
• 2  medium garlic cloves, unpeeled
• 1  tablespoon salt
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1  lb bow tie pasta
• 1⁄4 cup  extra-virgin olive oil
• 1  tablespoon  extra-virgin olive oil
• 3  cups fresh basil leaves, packed (about 4 ounces)
• 1  cup  Baby Spinach, about 1 ounce (packed)
• 1⁄2 teaspoon pepper
• 2  tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 1⁄2 ounces parmesan cheese, grated (3/4 cup)
• 6  tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1  pint cherry tomatoes, quartered (optional) or 1  pint grape tomatoes, halved (optional)

Directions

1. Bring 4 quarts water to rolling boil in large pot. Toast.
2. pine nuts in small dry skillet over medium heat, shaking pan occasionally, until just golden and fragrant, 4 to 5 minutes.
3. When water is boiling, add garlic and let cook 1 minute. Remove.
4. garlic with slotted spoon and rinse under cold water to stop cooking;.
5. set aside to cool. Add 1 tablespoon salt and pasta to water, stir.
6. to separate, and cook until tender (just past al dente). Reserve ¼.
7. cup cooking water, drain pasta, toss with 1 tablespoon oil, spread in.
8. single layer on rimmed baking sheet, and cool to room temperature,.
9. about 30 minutes.
10. When garlic is cool, peel and mince or press through garlic.
11. press. Place ¼ cup nuts, garlic, basil, spinach, pepper, lemon.
12. juice, remaining ¼ cup oil, and remaining 1 teaspoon salt in.
13. bowl of food processor and process until smooth, scraping sides of.
14. bowl as necessary. Add cheese and mayonnaise and process until.
15. thoroughly combined. Transfer mixture to large serving bowl. Cover.
16. and refrigerate until ready to assemble salad.
17. When pasta is cool, toss with pesto, adding reserved pasta water,.
18. 1 tablespoon at a time, until pesto evenly coats pasta. Fold in remaining.
19. ½ cup nuts and tomatoes (if using); serve.