Fresh Tomato-Basil-Asparagus Pasta Salad

Submitted by KathyP53

"My favorite kind of summer meal when tomatoes are peaking. You can also just chop up a large tomato versus using grape tomatoes. This is from SOuthern Living."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 14mins
• Ingredients: 6
• Serves: 4

ingredients

• 1 (16 ounce) package bow tie pasta
• 1 lb fresh asparagus
• 1 cup bottled lemon vinaigrette
• 1 (1 ounce) package fresh basil, chopped
• 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
• salt and pepper

directions

1. Cook pasta according to package directions, adding asparagus, cut into 2" pieces, during the last 2 minutes of cooking time. Drain and rinse under cool water.
2. Stir together 1 cup bottled lemon vinaigrette and chopped basil. Pour 3/4 cup of dressing over pasta mixture. Stir in tomatoes, and salt and pepper to taste. COver and chill 1 hour. Toss with remaining dressing just before serving. Garnish with additional freshly basil.

Reviews

[CIndytc]

Loved it! Light tasting pasta salad that looks alot more complicated than it is....I used recipe #96361 for the dressing. It was a perfect combination.

 

[ChefLee]

Boy is this wonderful!!! I used BecR's recipe#344310 recipe here on Zaar instead of bottled and that really made this salad sing!!! I love blanched asparagus and it was great to be able to save on pots and just throw it in with the pasta before draining!! I used regular vine-tomatoes instead of grape because I found some really good ones. I removed the seeds and extra juice before adding them, to keep from sogging up the pasta. Loved this recipe, thanks!!!!

 

[CoreyAnn]

This is a really simple salad that I've made to rave reviews many times over. The lemon vinaigrette is VERY hard to find so instead I typically pick up whatever vinaigrette that I'm feeling at the moment - usually one with basil in it.