Skip to main content

Farfalle Salad

This vibrant farfalle salad is a refreshing take on a Mediterranean classic, combining the bright flavours of red and yellow peppers with a rich, savoury pesto. As a high-protein vegetarian dish, it relies on a generous helping of garden peas and authentic Parmesan cheese to provide a satisfying and nutritious base. The addition of briny black olives and crisp red onion adds a wonderful depth of flavour and a satisfying crunch to every bite.

Ideal for meal prep or a quick midweek dinner, this versatile pasta salad keeps beautifully in the fridge. It is a brilliant option for healthy packed lunches or as a colourful side dish for a summer barbecue. For the best result, ensure you use a high-quality shop-bought pesto or a freshly made batch to keep the salad tasting light and fragrant.

Continue reading below

Ingredients for Farfalle Salad

  • 1 each yellow and red pepper, stemmed, cored, and diced (1/4 inch)

  • 1 medium-sized red onion, diced (1/4 inch)

  • 240ml frozen peas, thawed and cooked in boiling water for 3 minutes

  • 3 spring onions, thinly sliced

  • 120ml chopped pitted black olives

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 450g farfalle pasta

  • 150g prepared pesto

  • 30g freshly grated Parmesan cheese

How to make Farfalle Salad

  1. Combine the peppers, onion, peas, spring onions, and olives in a bowl. Reserve.

  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil with the olive oil. Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain, reserving 120ml the cooking water. Remove the pasta to a bowl and toss with 60ml the pasta water.

  3. Add the pesto and reserved vegetables to the pasta; toss to combine. Toss with cheese and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Let it rest at room temperature. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 1 day. Bring to room temperature 30 minutes before serving. Add more pesto and hot water to thin if necessary.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.

Article history

The information on this page is peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.

  • 16 Jan 2026 | Originally published

    Authored by:

    UK recipe editors

    Peer reviewed by

    UK recipe editors
flu eligibility checker

Ask, share, connect.

Browse discussions, ask questions, and share experiences across hundreds of health topics.

symptom checker

Feeling unwell?

Assess your symptoms online for free

Sign up to the Patient newsletter

Your weekly dose of clear, trustworthy health advice - written to help you feel informed, confident and in control.

Please enter a valid email address

By subscribing you accept our Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time. We never sell your data.