Name: Pesto Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 250g pasta (rigatoni or penne); 2 cups fresh basil leaves; 1/3 cup olive oil; 2 garlic cloves; 1/4 cup pine nuts; 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese; 1 tbsp lemon juice; 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved; Salt to taste

Description

A comforting Italian dish featuring vibrant basil and sweet cherry tomatoes, perfect for gatherings or a cozy night in.

Ingredients

Scale

250g pasta (rigatoni or penne)
2 cups fresh basil leaves
1/3 cup olive oil
2 garlic cloves
1/4 cup pine nuts
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
Salt to taste

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Bring salted water to a boil and cook pasta until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water.
Blend basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan, olive oil, lemon juice, and salt into a pesto.
Halve the cherry tomatoes and set aside.
Drain pasta and transfer to a bowl while still hot.
Toss pasta with pesto, adding pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
Gently stir in cherry tomatoes and top with extra Parmesan, pine nuts, and fresh basil. Serve warm or chilled.

Notes

For a vegan option, substitute Parmesan for nutritional yeast and skip the cheese altogether.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: main course
Method: Boiling and Blending
Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 350
Sugar: 5g
Sodium: 400mg
Fat: 20g
Saturated Fat: 4g
Unsaturated Fat: 16g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 45g
Fiber: 3g
Protein: 12g
Cholesterol: 15mg