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Fresh Garlic Scape Pesto Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes

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A quick and easy summer pasta dish featuring a vibrant garlic scape pesto tossed with linguine and fresh cherry tomatoes, delivering a bright, satisfying meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup fresh garlic scapes, chopped
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • Sea salt, to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 12 ounces linguine or spaghetti pasta
  • Optional: handful of fresh basil leaves for garnish

Instructions

  1. Roughly chop 1 cup of fresh garlic scapes and place them in a food processor.
  2. Add 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan, and 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice. Pulse a few times to combine.
  3. Slowly stream in 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil while the processor runs until the mixture forms a smooth, creamy pesto. Stop and scrape down the sides as needed.
  4. Season the pesto with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Set aside.
  5. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 12 ounces of pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes.
  6. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining the pasta.
  7. Drain the pasta and return it to the pot or transfer to a large mixing bowl.
  8. Toss the pasta with the garlic scape pesto, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time to reach desired consistency.
  9. Gently fold in 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes, warming them slightly while keeping their shape.
  10. Adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, or lemon juice if needed.
  11. Garnish with fresh basil leaves if using and serve immediately.

Notes

Do not overblend the pesto to avoid bitterness; pulse in short bursts and keep the color bright green. Reserve pasta water to loosen the pesto sauce for better coating. Toast pine nuts gently over medium-low heat to avoid burning. For vegan version, substitute Parmesan with nutritional yeast and use plant-based cheese alternatives. For nut-free pesto, replace pine nuts with toasted sunflower or pumpkin seeds.

Nutrition

Keywords: garlic scape pesto, cherry tomato pasta, summer pasta recipe, easy pesto pasta, fresh garlic scapes, vegetarian pasta

Find it online: https://rowanrecipes.com/fresh-garlic-scape-pesto-pasta-with-cherry-tomatoes-easy-recipe-for-summer-meals/