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Fresh Garlic Scape Pesto Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes

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A quick and easy pasta dish featuring a vibrant pesto made from fresh garlic scapes, toasted pine nuts, and Parmesan, tossed with al dente pasta and sweet cherry tomatoes for a fresh, spring-inspired meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup garlic scapes, chopped
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/3 cup pine nuts, toasted
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 12 ounces spaghetti or linguine
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Handful of fresh basil leaves, torn (optional)

Instructions

  1. Toast the pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until golden and fragrant, about 3-5 minutes. Set aside to cool.
  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 water before draining.
  3. In a food processor, combine chopped garlic scapes, cooled pine nuts, grated Parmesan, and fresh lemon juice. Pulse to blend.
  4. With the processor running, slowly drizzle in olive oil until the pesto is smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time if the pesto is too thick.
  5. Transfer drained pasta to a large mixing bowl. Add the pesto and toss gently to coat evenly. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if needed for silky texture.
  6. Fold in halved cherry tomatoes and red pepper flakes if using.
  7. Adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or lemon juice as desired. Serve immediately, garnished with torn basil leaves if desired.

Notes

Do not overblend the pesto to keep a slightly chunky texture. Toast pine nuts carefully to avoid burning. Use reserved pasta water to adjust pesto consistency and help it cling to pasta. For vegan version, substitute Parmesan with nutritional yeast and use egg-free pasta. Garlic scapes can be substituted with fresh basil or green garlic if unavailable.

Nutrition

Keywords: garlic scape pesto, cherry tomato pasta, easy pasta recipe, spring pasta, homemade pesto, quick dinner, vegetarian pasta

Find it online: https://wigglebite.com/fresh-garlic-scape-pesto-pasta-recipe-easy-homemade-cherry-tomato-pasta/