I first threw this salad together a few years ago when I was scrambling to get a luncheon planned after I had my third baby. I needed a quick salad for a side dish and a pesto pasta salad came
This 5-star shrimp and orzo recipe has simple ingredients, but it is full of flavor. Parmesan cheese works in this dish, too, if you don't have pecorino Romano on hand. Serve leftovers as a great cold pasta salad for lunch.
At the heart of this recipe is a completely quirky and off-beat sauce made from pureed green olives. Served with golden, pan-fried gnocchi, capers, toasted almonds and chives. You can easily tweak it to work with pasta or grains as well.