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Fresh Garlic Scape Pesto Pasta Recipe with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

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A quick and flavorful pasta dish featuring a unique garlic scape pesto blended with creamy cottage cheese and sun-dried tomatoes, perfect for a fresh summer meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup garlic scapes, roughly chopped
  • 1 cup fresh basil leaves, packed
  • 1/4 cup pine nuts or walnuts, toasted
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated
  • 1/2 cup cottage cheese or ricotta
  • Juice of half a lemon
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
  • 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped (oil-packed preferred)
  • 12 ounces pasta (linguine, spaghetti, or penne)

Instructions

  1. Toast the nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes until golden and fragrant, stirring frequently to avoid burning.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook 12 ounces of pasta according to package directions until just al dente (about 8-10 minutes). Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
  3. In a food processor, combine chopped garlic scapes, fresh basil leaves, toasted nuts, grated Parmesan, cottage cheese or ricotta, and lemon juice. Pulse to combine.
  4. With the processor running, slowly drizzle in olive oil until the mixture is smooth but still textured. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time if pesto is too thick.
  5. Place drained pasta in a large bowl. Add pesto and chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Toss gently to coat evenly, adding more pasta water if needed for a silky sauce.
  6. Taste and adjust seasoning with extra lemon juice or salt if desired. Serve immediately with an extra sprinkle of Parmesan.

Notes

Toast nuts carefully to avoid bitterness. Chop garlic scapes finely and pulse slowly to avoid fibrous texture. Use reserved pasta water to adjust pesto consistency. For vegan version, substitute Parmesan and cottage cheese with nutritional yeast and vegan ricotta or tofu. Gluten-free pasta can be used for a gluten-free dish.

Nutrition

Keywords: garlic scape pesto, pesto pasta, sun-dried tomatoes, easy pasta recipe, summer pasta, garlic scapes, quick dinner, vegetarian pasta

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