Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta is a simple and delicious Mediterranean diet recipe that can be made in about 10 minutes.
The sun dried pesto is really the star of this recipe due to its vibrant red color and flavor combination that includes sweet and tangy sun dried tomatoes and fresh basil.
Easy sun dried tomato pasta.
This is a flavorful dish made with a simple tomato pesto combined with your favorite pasta.
I like that it takes about 10 minutes to make a fabulous pesto!
Did you try my recipe for Creamy Mediterranean Diet Avocado Pasta
That avocado pasta is made with spinach, garlic, and lemon juice for a perfect tasting sauce. Both this recipe for pesto pasta and that recipe for avocado pasta are simple recipes that are friendly to the Mediterranean diet.
To make this recipe you will need sun dried tomatoes in oil. You can find a selection of sun dried tomatoes in oil here.
Why we love sun dried tomatoes with pasta.
This is a simple recipe for a pasta sauce that tastes amazing. I also like that it can go with about any kind of pasta too!
Here is what else we like about this recipe for
- Leftover pesto can be used as a sandwich spread, a dip, or as an ingredient in other recipes.
- It is easy to personalize the pesto by adding other ingredients such as seasonings, chopped spinach, or bite sized tomatoes.
- The ingredients used to make the pesto with are healthier ingredients and friendly to the Mediterranean diet.
- This recipe is also vegan and vegetarian diets friendly.
- Instead of tossing the pesto with pasta, you can toss it with rice or another base.
- Gluten free pasta or low carbohydrate pastas work great with the pesto too!
Ingredients needed to make sun dried tomato pasta sauce with pasta.
- Pasta. Select a pasta with a shape that will hold onto the sauce. Then cook the pasta according to the package instructions until it is al dente. Your pasta should be drained before combining it with the other ingredients.
- Sun Dried Tomatoes in Oil. You can use a store-bought version or a homemade recipe for dried tomatoes in oil.
- Basil. Use fresh basil that has been roughly chopped.
- Pine Nuts. While pine nuts are preferred, sliced walnuts can alternatively be used.
- Parmesan Cheese. The cheese should be grated. Vegan parmesan cheese can be used.
- Garlic. Use freshly minced garlic for optimal flavor.
- Seasonings, such as salt and pepper, as desired.
- Olive Oil- Use flavorful olive oil if possible for more flavor in your pesto.
Tips for making the best tomato pesto sauce.
For best results, cook your pasta al dente as this will help to keep its shape when combined with the creamy sauce. Avoid overcooking the pasta as this can make it too mushy to hold its shape.
More helpful tips for you.
- To thicken out the pesto simple add additional oil as needed.
- Stirring in a bit of the water from the cooked pasta can help smooth out the texture of your pesto. Regular water will not work the same as you need the starch from the pasta.
- Another way to thicken out your sauce is to stir in a bit of tomato paste.
- Make your pesto a bit more interesting by adding a few drops of hot sauce.
- Add diced tomatoes to your pesto sauce to make it more interesting.
- Lastly, avoid over-bending the pesto as the tomato chunks are important to the texture of the sauce.
How to make Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta
Prep Time: 10 minutes (plus pasta cooking time).
Servings: 4.
- Start by making the pasta al dente according to the instructions on the packaging. Then place the pasta in a large bowl.
- To make the pesto sauce, place all of the ingredients except for the olive oil, into a food processor or good blender.
- Puree the ingredients until it reaches an almost smooth consistency (you want a few small chunks).
- Next, add the remaining olive oil and pulse until you get your desired consistency. You can make adjustments as needed for seasonings here as well.
- Drizzle half of the pesto over your pasta and then toss the ingredients. Add the remaining pesto as needed and toss until the pasta is covered.
How to store homemade pesto.
Leftover pesto should be stored in an airtight container (I like to recycle used jars for this kind of a recipe). When properly stored, this pesto should keep for up to a couple of weeks refrigerated.
You may also be interested in these ideas.
- Mediterranean Diet Gnocchi with Tomatoes
- Vegetarian Slow Cooker Taco Soup
- Slow Cooker Mediterranean Diet Chicken
- Pizza Babka Twist Bread (Vegan)
- 10 Minute Instant Pot Gumbo (Vegetarian)
- Mediterranean Diet Israeli Couscous Salad
Print the recipe for Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta
Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta
Equipment
Ingredients
Instructions
- Start by making the pasta al dente according to the instructions on the packaging. Then place the pasta in a large bowl.
- To make the pesto sauce, place all of the ingredients except for the olive oil, into a food processor or good blender. Puree the ingredients until it reaches an almost smooth consistency (you want a few small chunks).
- Next, add the remaining olive oil and pulse until you get your desired consistency. You can make adjustments as needed for seasonings here as well.
- Drizzle half of the pesto over your pasta and then toss the ingredients. Add the remaining pesto as needed and toss until the pasta is covered.
Recipe Notes
Also, please see the actual recipe post for further details on this recipe. Nutritional Information is only an estimate and can vary especially with ingredients that are used. To make this recipe fully vegan, please make sure that you are using fully vegan ingredients.
See Foodwineandlove.com for details on this recipe.
originally posted:
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Nutrition
Please note: Nutritional data has been calculated using a tool that comes with this recipe card and not by me. This means that Nutritional Information is only an estimate and can vary especially with ingredients that you use. The accuracy of this tool may differ from other tools as expected. Also note that there is no instructional value to the video that may be attached to this recipe. It is only there for visual pleasure. For more information about the images in this recipe, please refer the the recipe instructions. Thank you!
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Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta, a simple and delicious Mediterranean diet recipe made with tomatoes, basil, and pine nuts. Vegan, Vegetarian.
Please see recipe post for further details on this recipe.
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