Tofu Noodle Summer Pesto Pasta Salad | Healthy Pasta Recipe | Holista Foods

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Holista Healthy Pasta Recipes

 5 Healthy Ingredient = 1 Delicious Quick and Easy Summer Salad 

By: Veronica, VP of Operations

Serves 4 – 6 side salads or 2 – 3 main dishes

Ingredients

  • ½  package (7 oz) Holista™ Spaghetti

  • 1 jar (8oz) of low-sodium pesto – brand of your choice or see pesto directions below to make your own

  • 1 jar (6 oz) capers – drained

  • 2 cups sundried tomatoes – sliced into strips

  • 1 package (14 oz) of extra firm tofu – diced into ½ inch cubes

  • Salt and pepper to taste

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Directions:

  1. Start by slicing the sun-dried tomatoes into strips (if your tomatoes are whole pieces) and soak in water for 20 minutes.  Set aside while preparing the rest of the dish.

  2. Chop the block of tofu into ½” cubes and set aside.

  3. Fill a large pot ¾ full with water, bring to a boil.

  4. When pot of water is boiling, add ½ package Holista Low GI spaghetti to water.

  5. Bring back to boil, boil 3 minutes stirring occasionally. Drain but save a ¼ cup of the pasta water. Then rinse with room temp water to cool the pasta slightly but not make it cold. 

  6. Place strained pasta in large bowl.  Add the jar of pesto and mix.  If too thick slowly add a bit of the pasta water and mix to moisten.

  7. Add​ ​the drained sundried tomatoes and tofu and toss lightly until blended.

  8. Salt and pepper to taste

  9. Enjoy immediately at room temperature or let cool in the fridge for an hour.

Make Your Own Pesto
Ingredients:

  • 2​ ​cups​ fresh​ basil​ ​(rinsed​ ​and​ ​dried)

  • ½ ​cup​ ​pine​ ​nuts​ ​(lightly​ ​toasted)

  • 2​ ​cloves​ ​garlic,​ ​peeled​ ​and​ ​finely​ ​chopped

  • ½​ ​cup​ ​extra virgin​ ​olive​ ​oil

  • Kosher​ ​or​ ​sea​ ​salt

  • Fresh​ ​cracked​ ​black​ ​pepper

  • 1⁄2​ ​cup​ ​freshly​ ​grated​ ​parmesan cheese

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Directions:

  1. Combine​ ​first​ ​3​ ​ingredients​ ​into​ ​food​ ​processor,​ ​Using​ ​the​ ​pulse​ ​button,​ ​process​ ​until combined.​ ​Stop, scrape​ ​sides.​ ​

  2. Slowly​ ​add​ ​olive​ ​oil​ ​and​ ​continue​ ​to​ ​blend​ ​until​ ​well​ ​mixed and​ ​a​ ​paste​ ​forms.​ ​Remove​ ​from​ ​mixer.​ ​

  3. Add​ ​1⁄4​ ​cup​ ​cheese,​ ​mix​ ​until​ ​combined.​

  4. ​Add​ ​salt​ ​and​ ​pepper​ ​to​ ​taste.​ ​Set​ ​aside​ ​at​ ​room​ ​temperature​ ​until​ ​ready​ ​for use.​

COOK’S TIP

Leftover​ ​Pesto​ ​can​ ​be​ ​held​ ​in​ ​the​ ​refrigerator​ ​for​ ​5​ ​days,​ ​or​ ​placed​ ​in​ ​an​ ​airtight container​ ​and​ ​frozen​ ​for​ ​3​ ​months.

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NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

Calories 566

Fat, Total 19 g

Saturated Fat 1 g

Total Carbohydrate 67 g

Added Sugar 0 g Natural 16 g

Fiber 10 g

Protein 23 g

Cholesterol 9 mg

Trans Fatty Acid 0 g

Sodium 575 mg