Insalata di Patate al Pesto (Pesto Potato Salad)
Warm new potatoes and green beans coated in basil pesto, a simple Ligurian style salad that is lovely warm or cold.
Made with Basil pesto. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time30 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.97 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Put the potatoes in a pan of cold salted water. Bring to the boil and cook for 12 to 15 minutes until tender.
14 min - 2
Add the green beans for the last 4 minutes of cooking.
4 min - 3
Drain well and leave to steam dry in the colander for 3 minutes.
- 4
Mix your ready made basil pesto (see the base recipe) with the vinegar, olive oil and lemon zest in a large bowl to make a loose dressing.
- 5
Add the warm potatoes and beans to the bowl and toss gently so they soak up the dressing.
- 6
Fold through the tomatoes and basil. Taste, season and serve warm or at room temperature.
Tips
- Dress the potatoes while they are still warm. They absorb far more flavour than cold ones.
- Do not use a mashing motion. Fold gently to keep the potatoes whole.
- Add a spoonful of hot cooking water to the dressing if it looks stiff. It makes the pesto glossy.
Storing and freezing
Keeps 2 days in the fridge in a covered container. Serve at room temperature rather than ice cold, and do not freeze.
Questions
Is this potato salad gluten free?
Yes. It contains no gluten ingredients, and the pesto is gluten free too. It also contains no egg, and the pesto has pine nuts and parmesan, so it is not nut free or dairy free.
Can I take it on a picnic?
Yes, if you keep it cool in a bag with an ice pack and eat it within 4 hours. Add the tomatoes just before serving so they do not go mushy.
More made with basil pesto
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.