Pesto Pasta
Your new go-to summer time dinner: Pesto Pasta! Vibrant pesto tangled with entire wheat noodles, a handful of Parmesan, and no matter additions you please (tomatoes! spinach! rooster!) it is a recent, fuss-free dinner to eat and repeat.
Why You’ll Love This Straightforward Pesto Pasta Recipe
- Pesto Pasta Is Summertime Bliss. From Grilled Pesto Rooster Skewers to Pesto Pasta Salad, we take pleasure in scrumptious pesto recipes all summer time lengthy. In the case of pesto’s highest calling, nevertheless, a recent batch of pasta (or this Rooster Pesto Pasta) is darn close to unimaginable to beat.
- It’s Straightforward But Spectacular. That is one of the best pesto pasta recipe for a simple weeknight meal or a sublime banquet. It’s easy to make and prepared in below half-hour, however it delivers majorly crowd-pleasing taste.
- Versatile. Get pleasure from it as-is, or high it with Air Fryer Rooster Breast, Grilled Shrimp Seasoning, or a vegetarian protein like white beans or plant-based sausage.
Methods to Make Pesto Pasta
The Elements
- Entire Wheat Pasta. The most effective pasta shapes for pesto are lengthy noodles, equivalent to spaghetti, bucatini, capellini, or fettuccine. Quick shapes like fusilli and rotini are additionally nice, as they are going to catch the sauce of their ridges.
- Tomatoes. Pesto pasta with tomatoes is totally delicious! The sweetness of the tomatoes pairs splendidly with the nutty, creamy pesto sauce.
- Pesto. Go along with a traditional basil pesto, or strive a distinct pesto you take pleasure in for this recipe. I really like making my very own Basil Pesto every time doable, however store-bought additionally works.
- Lemon Juice. For brightness, stability, and acidity.
- Crimson Pepper Flakes. Provides a contact of warmth. In case you choose much less spice, you’ll be able to omit them.
- Greens. Sneak further greens into your pasta by including some arugula or spinach.
- Pine Nuts. A ending sprinkle of toasted pine nuts provides texture and makes this dish full.
- Parmesan. Whereas Parmesan is greatest, if it is advisable swap it for one more cheese, you would strive Asiago or Pecorino Romano. Notice that Pecorino is saltier, so you need to add much less.
The Instructions
- Cook dinner the Pasta. Reserve some pasta water.
- Cook dinner the Tomatoes. Cook dinner till they’re starting to burst.
- Drain the Pasta. Add it to the tomatoes.
- Stir within the Pesto. Toss with the juice, salt, and pink pepper flakes till coated. Add reserved pasta water as desired.
- Add the Arugula. Stir till it wilts.
- Add Pine Nuts and Parmesan. Get pleasure from!
Recipe Variations
- Make It Creamy. To make creamy pesto pasta, add avocado like this Avocado Pesto or Greek yogurt just like the basil pesto from The Properly Plated Cookbook.
- Veganize It. To make this recipe vegan, swap the Parmesan for dietary yeast.
- Add a Protein. Seafood goes nicely with pesto pasta; strive Pan Seared Salmon or Air Fryer Shrimp. Grilled Rooster Tenders would even be delish!
- Bulk It Up With Additional Veggies. Combine Sautéed Mushrooms, Roasted Crimson Peppers, or Grilled Eggplant into your pasta.
What to Serve with Pesto Pasta
- Salad. A easy salad like my Arugula Salad can be tasty with this recipe.
- Bread. A slice of bread goes so nicely with pesto pasta. Strive Rosemary Olive Oil Bread or No Knead Focaccia.
- Veggies. This Sautéed Zucchini Recipe is delicious paired with this pasta.
- Meatballs. Turkey Meatballs or Rooster Meatballs can be good!
Recipe Ideas and Tips
- Pasta Water Is Your Buddy. When attempting to create the right consistency for our sauce, utilizing pasta water is essential. Not solely does it assist skinny the sauce, however the starches within the water additionally assist it cling to the noodles.
- Don’t Burn the Pine Nuts! In case you determine so as to add the non-obligatory pine nuts, it’s crucial that you simply watch them continuously. It solely takes a minute for them to go from delightfully toasted to scorched.
- Grate Your Personal Cheese. I can’t over-stress the significance of grating your personal cheese. Please skip the lackluster inexperienced can and choose up some real-deal Parmesan cheese!
- Skip Warming the Leftovers. Flip leftovers right into a delicious pesto pasta salad. Toss in further greens or take pleasure in it as is.
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Pesto Pasta
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This pesto pasta with tomatoes is the right summer time meal! Quick and straightforward with vibrant taste, take pleasure in it as a vegetarian dinner or add rooster or shrimp.
Servings 4 servings
Energy 407kcal
Elements
- 8 ounces entire wheat spaghetti pasta or fettuccini or one other lengthy pasta, which works nicely for pesto
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
- ½ to ⅔ cup Basil Pesto or ready pesto of alternative
- 1 to 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt plus further to style
- ⅛ teaspoon pink pepper flakes non-obligatory
- 2 cups arugula or spinach
- 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts* non-obligatory for serving
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese for serving
Directions
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Cook dinner the pasta to al dente in accordance with package deal directions. RESERVE 3/4 CUP OF THE PASTA WATER.
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In the meantime, warmth the oil in a big sauté pan over medium-high warmth. Add the cherry tomatoes and cook dinner till starting to burst, about 4 minutes.
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As quickly because the pasta is completed cooking (don’t overlook to order 3/4 cup of the water), drain it, then instantly add the pasta to the skillet with the tomatoes.
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Add the pesto, lemon juice, salt, and pink pepper flakes. Toss to coat the noodles with the pesto, including further pasta water as wanted to loosen the sauce.
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Add the arugula, stirring till it wilts.
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Sprinkle with pine nuts and Parmesan. Style and modify salt as desired. Serve instantly, with further Parmesan.
Video
Notes
- *TO TOAST THE PINE NUTS: Place the nuts in a small, dry skillet. Toast over low warmth, shaking the pan usually, till aromatic and toasted, about 4 minutes. Instantly take away from the skillet.
- TO STORE: Refrigerate pesto pasta in an hermetic storage container for as much as 4 days.
- TO REHEAT: Rewarm leftovers in a skillet on the stovetop over medium-low warmth or within the microwave.
- TO FREEZE: Freeze pasta in an hermetic freezer-safe storage container for as much as 3 months. Let thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating.
Diet
Serving: 1(of 4) | Energy: 407kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 12g | Fats: 19g | Saturated Fats: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 2g | Monounsaturated Fats: 4g | Ldl cholesterol: 2mg | Potassium: 452mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1461IU | Vitamin C: 30mg | Calcium: 103mg | Iron: 3mg
