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Fresh Garlic Scape Pesto Pasta Recipe with Burst Cherry Tomatoes

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A quick and easy pasta dish featuring a fresh garlic scape pesto paired with burst cherry tomatoes for a light, flavorful summer meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup fresh garlic scapes, chopped
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes, whole
  • 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/3 cup toasted walnuts
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 12 ounces spaghetti or linguine pasta
  • Optional: red pepper flakes
  • Optional: fresh basil for garnish

Instructions

  1. Rinse and roughly chop 1 cup of fresh garlic scapes. Place them in a food processor with 1/3 cup toasted walnuts, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, and a pinch of salt. Pulse while slowly drizzling in 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil until smooth and creamy. Adjust salt or lemon juice as needed.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 12 ounces of spaghetti or linguine and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 8–10 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water before draining.
  3. While pasta cooks, rinse 2 cups of cherry tomatoes. Heat a large sauté pan over medium heat with a drizzle of olive oil. Add whole cherry tomatoes and cook for 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally until they start to soften and burst slightly.
  4. Add the drained pasta to the pan with tomatoes. Spoon in the pesto and toss gently to coat. Add reserved pasta water a few tablespoons at a time if the sauce is too thick, until silky and clings to noodles.
  5. Taste and season with additional salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if desired. Garnish with fresh basil leaves if available. Serve immediately while tomatoes are warm and bursting.

Notes

Toast walnuts before blending to enhance flavor. Pulse pesto ingredients rather than blending continuously to avoid overheating. Cook pasta al dente and do not rinse after draining to help pesto stick. Cook cherry tomatoes just until they start to burst to maintain texture. Save pasta water to adjust sauce consistency.

Nutrition

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

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