Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta (Printable)

A vibrant pasta dish featuring sun-dried tomatoes blended into a luscious pesto sauce. Mediterranean-inspired and ready in 30 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 14 oz dried pasta (penne, fusilli, or spaghetti)

→ Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto

02 - 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained (reserve 2 tbsp oil)
03 - 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
04 - 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts (or walnuts)
05 - 2 garlic cloves
06 - 1 cup fresh basil leaves
07 - 2 tbsp reserved sun-dried tomato oil
08 - 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
09 - Juice of 1/2 lemon
10 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ To Serve

11 - Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
12 - Extra grated Parmesan cheese

# How To Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.
02 - While the pasta cooks, prepare the pesto: In a food processor, combine sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan, pine nuts, garlic, and basil. Pulse until finely chopped.
03 - Add the reserved sun-dried tomato oil, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed. If the pesto is too thick, add a tablespoon or two of the reserved pasta water to loosen it.
04 - Toss the drained pasta with the sun-dried tomato pesto in a large bowl, adding more pasta water if needed to create a silky sauce.
05 - Serve immediately, garnished with fresh basil leaves and extra Parmesan.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • A quick and easy vegetarian main dish ready in only 30 minutes.
  • Packed with savory, umami-rich flavors from sun-dried tomatoes and Parmesan.
  • Versatile enough to work with penne, fusilli, or spaghetti.
02 -
  • Always reserve a bit of pasta water before draining; it is the key to achieving a silky, restaurant-quality sauce.
  • Scrape down the food processor sides during blending to ensure the pesto reaches a perfectly smooth consistency.
  • Use the reserved oil from the sun-dried tomato jar for an intensified flavor profile in the sauce.
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