Pesto Pasta Toss Food

PESTO PASTA RECIPE WITH TOMATOES AND MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 450 degrees F and arrange a rack in the middle.
• In a larger bowl, toss the tomatoes with kosher salt, black pepper, garlic and extra virgin olive oil. Transfer to a sheet-pan and bake in heated oven 25 to 35 minutes or just until the tomatoes collapse and develop some char (if you don't want them too soft, take the tomatoes out earlier). When ready, remove from the oven. (See notes)
• While the tomatoes are roasting, cook the spaghetti in boiling water according to the package to al dente (about 10 minutes). Reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta.
• Transfer the cooked spaghetti to a large bowl (same bowl used earlier for the tomatoes). Add the pesto and toss to coat. If you need to, add a little bit of the pasta cooking water to help mix it evenly. Taste, and if needed, add a bit of kosher salt and black pepper to season.
• Add the roasted tomatoes and mozzarella to the bowl of pasta. Toss to combine. Serve warm. Garnish with fresh basil, if you like.

JUICY PESTO PASTA!

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to the boil with the salt.
• Add pasta and cook for the length of time per the packet.
• Just before draining, scoop out 1 cup of of the pasta cooking water.
• Drain pasta in a colander, leave it for a minute.
• Transfer pasta to a bowl (do not use pasta cooking pot, too hot).
• Add pesto and 1/4 cup of pasta water. Toss to coat pasta in pesto, adding more water if required to make pasta silky and saucy, rather than dry and sticky.
• Taste, add more salt and pepper if desired.
• Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parmesan.

PESTO PASTA

Steps:

• Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling water until done. Drain.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a frying pan over medium low heat. Add pesto, onion, and salt and pepper. Cook about five minutes, or until onions are soft.
• In a large bowl, mix pesto mixture into pasta. Stir in grated cheese. Serve.

PESTO PASTA TOSS

Steps:

• Cook pasta as directed on package; drain.
• Toss with remaining ingredients.

PESTO PASTA WITH SHRIMP

Steps:

• Pulse 3 cups fresh basil, 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts and 1 garlic clove in a food processor. Pulse in 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt and 2 tablespoons each grated Parmesan and olive oil until smooth. Cook 12 ounces bucatini; reserve 1/2 cup cooking water. Toss the pasta with the pesto, 1 pound steamed chopped asparagus, 8 ounces sauteed shrimp and the reserved cooking water. Top with toasted breadcrumbs.

PESTO SHRIMP PASTA TOSS

Steps:

• Cook linguine according to package directions, adding shrimp during the last minute. Meanwhile, in a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan, combine the asparagus, squash and carrots. Drizzle with butter; sprinkle with lemon-pepper and salt. , Bake, uncovered, at 450° for 15-20 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring once., Drain linguine and shrimp; transfer to a serving bowl. Add the vegetable mixture and pesto; toss gently. Sprinkle with cheese and walnuts if desired.

CHICKEN AND BROCCOLI PESTO PASTA TOSS

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to directions, drain and cool.
• Combine pasta, chicken, broccoli and mozzarella.
• Blend basil and garlic in blender or food processor until finely chopped.
• Add mayo, lemon juice and salt.
• Process to combine thoroughly.
• Stir in Parmesan.
• Mix with pasta.
• Fold in nuts.
• Best served room temperature.

DEXTER'S MEDITERRANEAN PASTA TOSS

Steps:

• 1. Heat sauté pan to medium hot. Season shrimp with salt and pepper and fennel. To pan, add butter and shrimp. Sauté until spices are singed. They should be a little brown and nutty. Add the garlic and toss. Add the artichokes, olives, tomatoes and another pinch of salt and pepper. Do not toss ingredients. Immediately refresh pan with the white wine to let the wine absorb the seasonings and cook the garlic. Toss ingredients and let alcohol cook off and reduce in volume by half. Add chicken broth to moisten.
• 2. Add pesto, tossing until ingredients are evenly coated, then throw in pasta and heat everything back up.
• 3. Just before plating add spinach. Toss again and when spinach is wilted, plate immediately. Sprinkle crumbled feta on top.
• Chef's note: You can sub out the shrimp for chunks of chicken or sauté the dish without meat. Recipe can be multiplied for more people, but this dish really works the best when sautéed in a hot pan for one person.

PASTA WITH PESTO AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Cook the pasta in a large pan of rapidly boiling water until "al dente". Drain and return to the pan.
• While the pasta is cooking, mix the pine nuts, fresh basil leaves, garlic and Parmesan in a food processor until finely chopped.
• With the motor running, add the extra virgin olive oil in a slow stream until a smooth paste is formed.
• Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste.
• Toss the pesto through the hot pasta until it is thoroughly distributed.
• Garnish with shavings of fresh Parmesan.

PASTA, PESTO AND FETA TOSS

Steps:

• Cook pasta as directed and drain.
• Toss remaining ingredients with hot pasta.
• Can be made ahead and enjoyed cold.
• Prepare as directed, cover, refrigerate until serving.

AUTHENTIC ITALIAN PESTO PASTA

Steps:

• Boil pasta with olive oil and salt as directed by package.
• While pasta is cooking, cook chicken and chop into bite-sized pieces.
• Chop each tomato into thirds.
• Toss chicken and tomato with chopped garlic.
• When pasta is done toss in chicken and tomato mixture.
• Drizzle with pesto sauce and toss lightly.
• Serve family style in large bowl, sprinkled with crumbled feta.

PASTA AL PESTO

Steps:

• PESTO:
• Place ingredients in bowl of food processor.
• Process until smooth, using rubber scraper to push down the sides occasionally.
• Variations: - add 3/4 c freshly grated Parmesan Cheese
• PASTA:
• Boil a large pot of water; cook pasta until al dente.
• While pasta is cooking, prepare pesto; set aside, covered.
• Steam carrots.
• Meanwhile, in skillet, heat oil.
• Add zucchini and peapods.
• Stir continuously until crisp/tender.
• When pasta is done, drain well; toss pesto with noodles until they are well coated.
• Then toss in vegetables.
• Garnish with pepper and cheese.
• VARIATIONS: - add 1/2 c Parmesan cheese to Pesto