Healthy Pesto Pasta Recipe
Healthy Pesto Pasta recipe is simple to prepare in just over 30 minutes and is bursting with flavor from pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, broccoli and Parmesan cheese.
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 218kcal
Ingredients
- 2 cups any shape pasta uncooked
- 1 cup pasta water reserved
- 2 large garlic cloves minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
- 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp pesto divided
- 2 cups grape tomatoes cut in halves
- 4 cups broccoli florets coarsely chopped
- 1/3 cup sun dried tomatoes thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup (2 oz) Parmesan cheese grated
- 1/2 tsp salt more to taste
- 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
- Ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta as per package instructions.
- While pasta is cooking, get all ingredients ready - chop veggies and grate cheese.
- Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, draining the rest. Set aside.
- Preheat large deep skillet or a dutch oven on medium heat, add olive oil and garlic. Sauté for 30 seconds, stirring frequently.
- Add 1 tbsp pesto, tomatoes and stir. Cook for 1 - 2 minutes, stir and cook another 1 - 2 minutes.
- Move to one side of the skillet and make sure the empty side of is positioned directly over heat. Add 1 tbsp pesto and broccoli, stir and cook for 4 minutes, stirring once.
- Remove skillet from heat and add remaining 1/4 cup pesto, sun dried tomatoes, half Parmesan cheese, salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, pasta and pasta water. Stir gently and let flavours marinate for a few minutes. Do not cover because broccoli will become a mushy mess.
- Sprinkle with remaining half Parmesan cheese. Serve hot.
Video
Notes
- Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 - 5 days. Reheat on stovetop on low-medium heat. Add a bit more pesto if needed.
- Freeze: Up to 3 months. Thaw before reheating.
- Pasta: Gluten free, whole wheat, brown rice, quinoa, kamut pasta. You name it! Pictured is my kids' favourite (organic if I can find) Garofalo brand from Costco. It's one of the best quality pasta I ever tried.
- Parmesan cheese: Freshly grated is the way to go.
- Frozen broccoli: If you are using frozen broccoli, you don't need to thaw first. Keep an extra eye out so that it doesn't get overcooked and mushy.
Nutrition
Serving: 1.5cups | Calories: 218kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 459mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g