Pesto Vegetable Pasta Recipes

JUICY PESTO PASTA!

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to the boil with the salt.
• Add pasta and cook for the length of time per the packet.
• Just before draining, scoop out 1 cup of of the pasta cooking water.
• Drain pasta in a colander, leave it for a minute.
• Transfer pasta to a bowl (do not use pasta cooking pot, too hot).
• Add pesto and 1/4 cup of pasta water. Toss to coat pasta in pesto, adding more water if required to make pasta silky and saucy, rather than dry and sticky.
• Taste, add more salt and pepper if desired.
• Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parmesan.

PESTO VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Cook and drain vegetables as directed on package.
• Toss vegetables and pesto. Sprinkle with cheese.

BASIL PESTO PASTA WITH GRILLED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Preheat grill to medium-high. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Combine basil, Parmesan, walnuts, garlic, 1/4 tsp. salt, and 1/8 tsp. pepper in a food processor; pulse until finely chopped. Slowly pour 1/4 cup oil through the feed tube; continue processing until the mixture is smooth. Transfer to a medium bowl and set aside.
• Combine portobellos, bell peppers, squash, scallions, and the remaining 2 Tbsp. oil, 1/4 tsp. salt, and 1/8 tsp. pepper in a large bowl; toss to coat.
• Oil the grill grates (see Tip). Grill the vegetables until tender and lightly charred, 6 to 8 minutes per side. Remove from the grill and coarsely chop.
• Cook pasta according to package directions. Add zucchini "noodles" to the pasta during the last 2 minutes of cooking. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining. Drain the pasta and zoodles and place in a large bowl.
• Whisk 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta water into the pesto. Pour over the pasta and toss to coat, adding more reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce. Add the grilled vegetables and beans; toss to coat well.

PESTO VEGETABLE PASTA

Steps:

• Pulse basil leaves, parmesan cheese, toasted pine nuts, garlic, and salt and pepper in food processor. Add olive oil gradually until fully combined. Set aside.
• Boil angel hair pasta to al dente, with plenty of water and salt added. Reserve about one cup of pasta water, and then strain the angel hair. Mix the pasta with the pesto sauce, and add enough pasta water until well coated.
• Using spiralizer, spiralize the zucchini squash and yellow squash. Slice the carrots in thin slices (as it is difficult to spiralize them).
• Add olive oil to large sauce pan, heated to medium high heat. Add veggies and cook until slightly softened, approximately 7-8 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• To serve, place pesto pasta in bowls, along with some spiralized veggies. Top with freshly shredded parmesan cheese and extra pine nuts, if desired.

CREAMY PESTO PENNE WITH VEGETABLE RIBBONS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, cook pasta according to package directions, adding the edamame during the last 5 minutes of cooking. Meanwhile, using a vegetable peeler or metal cheese slicer, cut carrots and squash into very thin lengthwise strips., In a large skillet, saute onion in 1 tablespoon butter until tender. Add the vegetable strips and garlic; saute 2-3 minutes longer or until crisp-tender. Stir in the cream, pesto, salt and remaining butter. Bring to a gentle boil; cook for 2-4 minutes or until sauce is slightly thickened and vegetables are tender., Drain pasta and edamame; toss with vegetable mixture. Sprinkle with walnuts.

VEGETABLE PESTO PASTA

Steps:

• Make the pesto by pureéing the basil through garlic in a blender or food processor; slowly add the 1/2 cup olive oil, blending until smooth.
• Heat the 1 Tbs oil in a skillet over medium heat and sauté the asparagus, beans and zucchini about 10 minutes, stirring often, until cooked but not limp.
• Add 1 cup of the pesto, stir thoroughly, and cook until heated thru.
• Toss the pasta with the pesto-vegetable mixture and serve.