Pasta with Tomato and Pesto
Elevate your weeknight dinner with this vibrant and flavorful Pasta with Tomato and Pesto recipe! Featuring perfectly cooked pasta coated in a luscious basil pesto, this dish gets a burst of freshness from juicy cherry tomatoes sautéed with fragrant garlic. The combination of earthy pesto and sweet tomatoes creates a balance of flavors that’s both comforting and gourmet. Ready in just 30 minutes, this recipe is ideal for busy days yet impressive enough for entertaining. Customize your experience by using your favorite pasta shape and garnishing with Parmesan cheese and fresh basil for a touch of decadence. Simple, delicious, and satisfying, this Mediterranean-inspired pasta is sure to become a family favorite.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 400 grams pasta (spaghetti, fusilli, or penne)
- 250 grams cherry tomatoes
- 100 grams basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 pieces garlic cloves
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoons black pepper
- 50 grams grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- 5 pieces fresh basil leaves (for garnish)
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Mince the garlic cloves and add them to the skillet. Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, but do not let them brown.
Add the cherry tomatoes to the skillet and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they soften and start to release their juices.
Reduce the heat to low and stir in the basil pesto. Mix well to combine with the tomatoes.
Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat in the tomato-pesto mixture. If the sauce is too thick, add a little bit of the reserved pasta cooking water, 2 tablespoons at a time, until the desired consistency is reached.
Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
Serve the pasta in bowls, sprinkled with grated Parmesan cheese if desired, and garnish with fresh basil leaves. Enjoy your meal!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
381 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 21.0 g | 27% | |
| Saturated Fat | 5.0 g | 25% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 7 mg | 2% | |
| Sodium | 825 mg | 36% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 36.2 g | 13% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 3.2 g | 11% | |
| Total Sugars | 2.5 g | ||
| Protein | 12.8 g | 26% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.1 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 196 mg | 15% | |
| Iron | 1.7 mg | 9% | |
| Potassium | 236 mg | 5% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
