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Fresh Garlic Scape Pesto Pasta Recipe Easy 5-Minute Cherry Tomato Dish

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A quick and fresh pasta dish featuring a unique garlic scape pesto and juicy cherry tomatoes, perfect for spring and summer meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup chopped garlic scapes
  • 1/4 cup pine nuts or walnuts, toasted
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 12 ounces pasta (linguine or spaghetti recommended)
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
  • Optional: a handful of fresh basil leaves, torn
  • Optional: a pinch of red pepper flakes

Instructions

  1. Toast the nuts: Heat a dry skillet over medium heat. Add 1/4 cup of pine nuts or walnuts and toast, stirring frequently, for about 3-5 minutes until fragrant and golden. Remove from heat and let cool.
  2. Prepare the pesto: In a food processor, combine the chopped garlic scapes, cooled nuts, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan, and 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice. Pulse a few times to combine.
  3. Stream in olive oil: With the processor running, slowly pour in 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil until the mixture reaches a creamy, spreadable consistency. Stop and scrape down the sides as needed.
  4. Season: Add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Pulse a few more times to mix.
  5. Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 12 ounces of pasta and cook until al dente, usually 8-10 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water before draining.
  6. Prepare the tomatoes: While pasta cooks, halve 1 pint of cherry tomatoes. Leave fresh or lightly sauté in a pan with a drizzle of olive oil for 2-3 minutes to soften slightly.
  7. Toss everything together: Return drained pasta to the pot or a large bowl. Add the garlic scape pesto and cherry tomatoes. Toss, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time to loosen the sauce and help it coat the noodles evenly.
  8. Finish and serve: Taste and adjust seasoning with extra salt, pepper, or a pinch of red pepper flakes if desired. Garnish with torn fresh basil leaves if using. Serve immediately.

Notes

Toast nuts carefully to avoid burning and enhance flavor. Add pasta water gradually to achieve a silky sauce. Pesto can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days with a drizzle of olive oil on top to prevent browning. For vegan version, substitute Parmesan with nutritional yeast and use egg-free pasta.

Nutrition

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

Find it online: https://yumyep.com/fresh-garlic-scape-pesto-pasta-recipe-easy-5-minute-cherry-tomato-dish/