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Fresh Garlic Scape Pesto Pasta Recipe with Cherry Tomatoes

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A bright, fresh, and rich pasta dish featuring a unique garlic scape pesto paired with juicy cherry tomatoes. Quick and easy to prepare, perfect for spring and summer meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup fresh garlic scapes, coarsely chopped
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon
  • 1 small garlic clove, minced (optional)
  • 12 ounces pasta (spaghetti, linguine, or gemelli)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Toast the pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium-low heat for 3-5 minutes until golden and fragrant, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and let cool.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 12 ounces of pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente (8-10 minutes). Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
  3. In a food processor, combine chopped garlic scapes, toasted pine nuts, grated Parmesan, minced garlic (if using), and lemon juice. Pulse to combine.
  4. With the processor running, slowly stream in olive oil until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Add reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the pesto.
  5. Halve the cherry tomatoes and set aside.
  6. In a large mixing bowl, toss the hot drained pasta with the garlic scape pesto, adding reserved pasta water as needed to create a silky coating.
  7. Gently toss in the halved cherry tomatoes to coat with pesto without breaking them.
  8. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or more lemon juice if desired.
  9. Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan, pine nuts, or fresh basil leaves if desired.

Notes

Do not rinse pasta after draining to help pesto cling better. Toast pine nuts carefully to avoid burning. Add olive oil slowly when blending pesto to prevent separation. Add cherry tomatoes at the end to keep their texture fresh and juicy. For dairy-free, substitute Parmesan with nutritional yeast or vegan cheese. Use gluten-free pasta for gluten-free option.

Nutrition

Keywords: garlic scape pesto, pasta recipe, cherry tomatoes, spring pasta, easy dinner, vegetarian pasta, fresh pesto

Find it online: https://avabowls.com/fresh-garlic-scape-pesto-pasta-recipe-with-cherry-tomatoes-easy-and-delicious/