Fresh Basil Pesto Pasta Salad

INGREDIENTS

4 cups

basil leaves

2/3 cup

sunflower seeds (or pine nuts)

1 cup

Parmesan cheese (grated, fresh, divided)

6 cloves

garlic

lemon (juiced, divided)

1 tsp

coarse salt (more or less to taste)

1 tsp

cracked black pepper (more or less to taste)

3/4 cup

extra virgin olive oil (plus additional for serving)

16 oz

spiral pasta (fusili, cellentani, rotini, etc.)

1 pint

grape tomatoes (halved)

1 lb

asparagus