Summer Pasta Salad with Grilled Zucchini, Ricotta, Pesto & Olives

Summer is the best time to grill anything- especially fresh vegetables. This summer pasta salad is an excellent example: tender, grilled zucchini accompanied by rich pesto dressing, Greek olives, roasted garlic and creamy ricotta for a delicious combination of flavors. Add grilled chicken or fish to make it a hearty meal. 

Ingredients:

Dressing:

• 3 tablespoons DeLallo Pesto 
• 2 teaspons fresh lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons DeLallo Extra Virgin Olive Oil 

• 1 (1-pound) package DeLallo Organic Whole Wheat Rigatoni
• 1 zucchini, sliced thinly lengthwise
• 1 pint grape tomatoes, cut in half 
• 1 (7-ounce) DeLallo Jumbo Pitted Calamata Olives Ready Pack, chopped
• 4 cloves DeLallo Whole Roasted Garlic antipasto, diced
• 4 ounces DeLallo Whole Milk Ricotta 
• 2 tablespoons DeLallo Extra Virgin Olive Oil, plus more for grilling

Directions:

Dressing:
Whisk the pesto and lemon juice together in a small bowl. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil, whisking constantly until fully incorporated. Continue to whisk for an additional 1 to 2 minutes. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Set the dressing aside for 10 minutes to allow the flavor to develop. 

Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add salt, then add the pasta. Cook until al dente, then drain in a colander and set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, drizzle zucchini with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Grill for about 5 minutes for visible grill marks.

In a saucepan, toss halved grape tomatoes with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Sauté for about 4 to 5 minutes—until tomatoes are soft and slightly caramelized.   

In a mixing bowl, toss whole wheat pasta with dressing, then combine with grilled zucchini, tomatoes, chopped olives and roasted garlic. Top with small dollops of ricotta. 

Serves 4 to 6