Smoked Salmon Pasta Salad

Recipe modified from one on a can of Totem smoked salmon.

• 6 oz. smoked salmon
• 2 cups cooked rotini (½ - 12 oz package), drained and cooled
• Lemon dressing (see below)

If salmon includes liquid, drain it and reserve the liquid. Break salmon into chunks. Combine with rotini in a large bowl. Add lemon dressing and toss lightly.

Lemon Dressing:

• Reserved salmon liquid, if any
• Leaves of ¼ bunch basil (variation: mint)
• ¼ cup olive oil
• ¾ tsp. minced garlic, or 1 ½ cloves
• ¼ tsp. salt
• ¼ tsp. dill weed
• ¼ tsp. ground black pepper
• 1 ½ oz. shredded Parmesan or Romano cheese
• 1 tbsp. lemon juice and ¼ tsp. crushed, grated lemon peel
  or if doubling recipe, juice and zest of 1 medium lemon
  or (variation) juice and zest of ½ lime

Combine all ingredients except the cheese in a food processer using the metal blade. Process until the basil is appropriately minced. Mix in the cheese.