Summer Veg Pasta Salad & Lemon Pesto Dressing

Summer Veg Pasta Salad & Lemon Pesto Dressing

A flourishing summer garden on your dinner plate. Bitter rocket and crunchy peppers tossed with protein-rich cannellini beans and olives. Fibre-packed brown rice penne keeps it filling. Don't forget the juicy tomatoes and the zippy dressing. Sit back, enjoy the salad - and the sunshine too!

1/3 daily fibre 4 of 5 a day Low sat fat

Serving size

Cook time: 25 mins
Cuisine: Italian
Food group: Vegan
Allergens: Nuts
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Cooking Instructions

The protein cooking time listed in this recipe has been updated.

As of December 2025, we’ve revised cooking times for all our proteins to reflect improved food safety guidance.

Check out the latest recommended times in our Cooking Guidelines.

Before you start

  • Preheat the oven to 240C / fan 220C / gas mark 9 / air fryer 190C
  • Line a baking tray with parchment paper
  • Bring a large saucepan filled with salted water to a boil
  • Pull out a large frying pan, a sieve, a grater & a measuring jug

Get roasting

  • Slice the courgettes into 1cm thick half-moons. Thinly slice the peppers
  • Place both onto the lined baking tray and toss with 1 tbsp oil, a pinch of salt and pepper
  • Roast for 18-20 mins / air fryer 14-16 mins, until soft and golden

Prep & boil

  • Halve the tomatoes. Finely grate the garlic. Drain and rinse the beans
  • Add the penne to the saucepan and boil for 7-8 mins, until cooked. Reserve 150ml water, then drain

Soften the tomatoes

  • Roughly chop the parsley and olives
  • Heat the large frying pan with 1 tbsp oil on medium-high heat. Once hot, add the tomatoes, olives and garlic and cook for 4-5 mins, until softened. Season with salt and pepper

Build the salad

  • Stir in the pesto, the juice from the lemon and the reserved pasta water into the pan. Bring to the boil and simmer for 2-3 mins, until thickened slightly, then stir in the beans, roasted veg, cooked pasta and half the parsley
  • Toss to coat and season with salt and pepper

Plate up

  • Remove the pasta from the heat, add the rocket and toss to combine
  • Share the pasta salad between bowls. Scatter over the walnuts and remaining parsley

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