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Fresh Garlic Scape Pesto Pasta Recipe with Cherry Tomatoes

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A quick and flavorful pasta dish featuring fresh garlic scape pesto and sweet cherry tomatoes, perfect for spring and summer meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup fresh garlic scapes, chopped
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 12 ounces spaghetti or your favorite pasta
  • 1 small garlic clove, minced (optional)
  • A pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

  1. Fill a large pot with water, add a generous pinch of salt, and bring to a boil (about 10 minutes). Add 12 ounces of spaghetti, cooking according to package directions (usually 8-10 minutes) until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
  2. While the pasta cooks, heat a small skillet over medium heat. Add 1/4 cup pine nuts and toast, stirring frequently, until golden and fragrant (about 3-4 minutes). Remove from heat and set aside.
  3. In a food processor, combine 1 cup chopped fresh garlic scapes, toasted pine nuts, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan, 1 small minced garlic clove (optional), and 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice. Pulse a few times to combine.
  4. With the processor running, slowly drizzle in 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil until the mixture forms a smooth paste. Stop and scrape down the sides as needed. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  5. While making pesto, halve 1 pint cherry tomatoes. For a warm topping, sauté them lightly in the skillet with a pinch of salt and a few red pepper flakes for 2-3 minutes until just softened. Or serve fresh for a cooler contrast.
  6. Return drained pasta to the pot (off the heat). Stir in the pesto, adding reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time to loosen the sauce and help it coat the noodles evenly.
  7. Plate the pesto pasta, top with cherry tomatoes, additional Parmesan if desired, and a drizzle of olive oil. Fresh basil leaves can be added for a fragrant finish.

Notes

Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. Toast pine nuts carefully to avoid burning. Pulse pesto ingredients to avoid over-processing. Cherry tomatoes can be served fresh or lightly sautéed. Substitute nuts and cheese for allergy-friendly or vegan versions.

Nutrition

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

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