Veggie Pesto Pasta with Chickpeas is a perfect dish if you are looking for something fresh, vibrant and easy to prepare. Packed with flavour, nutrients, and colours, this pesto pasta salad with chickpeas is a crowd-pleaser and a go-to recipe for many, including myself.
Summer recipes are my favourite, and this summer favourite Chickpea pesto pasta salad is a lovely dish that can be made with your favourite variety of pasta, lots of fresh vegetables such as cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions, along with protein-packed chickpeas(garbanzo beans), crumbled feta cheese all tossed in a basil pesto dressing.
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- Why you’ll love making this Veggie Pesto Pasta with Chickpeas Recipe?
- Ingredients to make the Veggie Pesto Pasta with Chickpeas
- How to make Pesto Pasta Salad with Chickpeas and Veggies?
- Customizations
- Tips & Suggestions
- Serving Suggestions
- Frequently asked questions
- Other recipes you may like
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This dish is known for its delicious taste and versatility. It is suitable as a main dish or side dish and can be prepared in advance to help your busy weeknights. I love this chickpea pesto pasta salad for its easy preparation, making it a go-to dinner recipe whenever I am looking for a simple, light, and convenient meal.
If you love salad recipes, check out my Boiled Peanut Salad recipe.
Why you’ll love making this Veggie Pesto Pasta with Chickpeas Recipe?
Combining fresh vegetables, aromatic basil pesto, and hearty chickpeas creates flavour in every bite.
This pesto pasta salad is loaded with essential nutrients from the veggies, pasta, and protein-packed chickpeas.
Pesto chickpea salad can be served as a main dish or a side dish and is a great recipe option for meal prep on busy weekdays for a healthy dinner.
This healthy pasta salad is also a good option for pasta night with your family!
With simple preparation and readily available ingredients, this recipe is a time-saving option for any occasion.
You can easily customize this recipe according to what is available in your refrigerator. Throw in any veggies of your choice, cook the pasta you prefer, and there you go!
Kids will love this vibrant and attractive pesto pasta salad. This quick recipe is a great option to pack in their lunchboxes!
Ingredients to make the Veggie Pesto Pasta with Chickpeas
- Pasta – I used Fusilli, but you can also use penne, farfalle or macaroni
- Pesto Sauce – You can use store-bought pesto or fresh, homemade pesto
- Chickpeas – I have used fresh chickpeas cooked at home. You could use canned chickpeas, too
- Onion
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Cucumber
- Crumbled Feta Cheese
- Salt & Pepper Powder
- Basil Leaves
How to make Pesto Pasta Salad with Chickpeas and Veggies?
If using raw chickpeas, wash and soak the chickpeas in enough water for 8 hours. Remove the soaked water, add fresh water and salt to the chickpeas and pressure cook for four whistles or till the chickpeas are fully cooked in a pressure cooker. As an alternative, you can use canned chickpeas. Just drain the water and use it.
Cook your choice of pasta according to the package instructions. Once cooked, rinse the pasta under cold water and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the chickpeas, cooked pasta, and pesto and gently combine them without breaking the cooked pasta and chickpeas.
Add cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, salt, black pepper powder, and crumbled feta cheese. Toss until everything is evenly coated.
Add some finely chopped basil leaves and serve the delicious chickpea pasta pesto salad.
Customizations
Pine nuts or any other chopped nuts, pumpkin seeds, garlic powder, sunflower seeds, black olives, cooked sweet corn, kalamata olives, sweet potatoes, avocado, spinach or other leafy greens, and bell peppers are good additions to this veggie pesto pasta salad.
Fresh lemon juice can also enhance the flavour and taste.
Add as many fresh veggies and fresh herbs as possible to make the pesto pasta salad exciting and nutritious.
Add some crispy chickpeas as a topping to this healthy chickpea pesto pasta recipe. You can try my Air fryer chickpeas recipe.
Tips & Suggestions
This pasta salad can be prepared a day in advance, making it a perfect option for gatherings and potlucks.
Feel free to add or substitute vegetables based on your preference or what’s in season.
Add grilled paneer or tofu to the salad for an extra protein boost.
Substitute feta cheese with grated parmesan cheese for a different taste.
Serving Suggestions
This pasta salad is a great addition to outdoor gatherings and pairs well with grilled dishes.
Pack this salad in a lunchbox for a refreshing and satisfying meal at work or school.
Serve the veggie pesto pasta with chickpeas alongside a bowl of soup or a slice of crusty bread for a light and delicious dinner. A perfect side dish!
Frequently asked questions
You can use any kind of pasta that you prefer. Regular pasta or whole wheat pasta goes well.
The pasta salad will stay fresh for up to 3 days when stored in an airtight container.
To give the chickpea pasta salad a kick of spice, consider adding red pepper flakes, a pinch of cayenne pepper, or fresh chopped chili peppers.
Absolutely! For a unique flavour and taste, you can use alternative pesto varieties such as spinach, sun-dried tomato, or arugula pesto.
Yes, you can customize the recipe by using white beans, black beans, or kidney beans based on your preference.
Other recipes you may like
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Veggie Pesto Pasta with Chickpeas
Ingredients
- 2 cups Cooked Chickpeas canned chickpeas or ½ cup raw chickpeas, soaked overnight and cooked
- 2 cups Pasta or 150 grams(I used Fusilli)
- 1 cup Pesto I used store bought
- ½ cup Cherry Tomatoes
- ½ cup Cucumber
- 1 small Onion
- ½ cup Feta Cheese crumbled
- ½ teaspoon Salt or as needed
- ¼ teaspoon Pepper Powder
- few Basil Leaves
Instructions
- If using raw chickpeas, wash and soak the chickpeas in enough water for 8 hours. Remove the soaked water, add fresh water and salt to the chickpeas and pressure cook for four whistles or till the chickpeas are fully cooked in a pressure cooker. As an alternative, you can use canned chickpeas. Just drain the water and use it.
- Cook your choice of pasta according to the package instructions. Once cooked, rinse the pasta under cold water and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the chickpeas, cooked pasta, and pesto and gently mix them without breaking the cooked pasta and chickpeas.
- Add cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, salt, pepper powder, and crumbled feta cheese. Toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Add some finely chopped basil leaves and serve the delicious chickpea pasta salad with pesto.