This really should be called, “Cherry Tomato Broccoli Pesto Pasta.” But that’s a mouthful! This pasta reminds me of everything I love about summer. It is fresh. It is quick. It is easy. There is not any meat in the dish, but you do not miss it. My family loves this.
I recently indulged in a similar pasta dish at a local Italian restaurant. I wanted to try to recreate it at home. I searched for a recipe, but the closest I could find was this yummy one. The following recipe is loosely adapted from that one.
Ingredients:
1/4-1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
1/4 cup white wine (I always use Riesling and it is fine. Any white non-bubbly wine will do)
1 clove of crushed garlic (or a handy dandy frozen cube)
6 oz. refrigerated pesto (pick your favorite. A bad pesto will ruin this dish)
1 12 oz. package fresh linguine (if you cannot find this a regular package of dried linguine is fine)
2 pint size containers of cherry tomatoes
3/4 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. Olive oil
1 head of brocolli chopped (or one small steamable all ready chopped package)
5 small slices fresh mozarella (cut again into thirds)
First things first. Chop your broccoli heads up into large bite sized pieces and place into a large sealable gallon sized plastic bag. Or you could simply buy a small package of steam-able brocolli. I normally do that, but this time, my store was out. Seal the chopped broccoli crowns, place them in the bag and set aside.
Boil water in a large pot.
Chop three-quarters of your cherry tomatoes into half. Also cut mozzarella slices into bite sized pieces and set mozzarella pieces aside.
In a large skillet, heat up the olive oil over medium-low heat. Add garlic and cook one minute. Add halved cherry tomatoes and remaining whole tomatoes into the skillet. Add salt and red pepper flakes. Let simmer twelve minutes. Stir occassionally.
In the meantime, boil noodles according to the directions on the package. I prefer to use fresh pasta found in the refrigerated section. It cooks faster and generally just tastes better. But you can use boxed pasta, just be aware of the time difference. Before draining pasta, carefully reserve a cup of the pasta water and set aside. Drain the pasta and return the drained pasta to the pot it boiled in (with no water in it).
Pierce broccoli bag with fork two times. Microwave the bag for three and a half minutes on high.
After the tomatoes have simmered for twelve minutes, add wine and let simmer for two more minutes.
Add a little of the pasta water (about 1/4 cup) and broccoli. Mix.
Add pesto to the drained noodles. Add enough pasta water to make it easier to stir (about 1/4 cup. Do not add all of your reserved pasta water).
Add pesto noodles to the cherry tomato/broccoli mixture. Stir. Before plating add mozzarella to the pan and quickly mix. You do not want your mozzarella to melt too much.
Plate. And eat up! If you have picky kids, and they are old enough, I recommend letting them carefully cut the tomatoes and mozzarella when you are preparing this dish. It will make them feel like they made the dish and they will be more inclined to eat it. Both of my kids always have seconds. ; )
Enjoy! We will be eating this yummy pasta all summer! It just tastes fresh and happy!
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This post was edited using the fun Afterlight app. It makes the colors richer in the photos.
Looks yummy! I will have to look into fresh pasta. I have never had it before and I have only had my great grandmother’s fresh noodles, so I am intrigued.
Thank you Alicia. The refrigerated pasta is so good. Fresh pasta is hard to make. Or not hard, but tedious. I love being able to buy it in the store. So easy! I hope you like it!
Sweet dreams!
Jenni
Looks delicious! Pasta…my huge downfall…(oh.. and french bread too lol)
Thank you Kara! Everything is my downfall! Especially yummy stuff. : ). I just had a slice of chocolate cake!!!
Sweet dreams!
Jenni
I am going to have to make this! Yum! I love pesto! But, Jenni – how do you know if you’ve got a bad pesto? Is the Classico pesto that comes in a jar okay? Or should I try something else?
Thank you Cynthia. I thought of you because it has no meat. : ). I do not like pesto that is too pine-nutty. It will taste like a forrest. I imagine Classico would be fine since it is a name brand and not catered towards being different. I would use 3/4 of a cup of it. Please let me know what you think. I love it so much. My daughter asks for this all of the time!
I hope that helps!
Have a terrific Tuesday! : )
Jenni
Thanks for the tip!
Anytime! I hope it works for you! I just sent you an email. I hope you get it tonight! : )
Jenni
Um, yum!!! This sounds so good right now! I love me some pasta 🙂
Thank you Ashley! Pasta is the best! : ). In fact we had a different recipe tonight! And leftovers tomorrow! I can’t get a way from the stuff.
Have a wonderful week!
Jenni
This could be an interesting way of tricking Victor into eating two of the things he claims not to like: Broccoli and tomatoes! I gotta try this! With spelt pasta, though, or I will fart enough to float a steampunk dirigible.
Uh, tmi, hon? 😉 But have you ever tried spelt pasta? It’s made from less refined wheat so it has more of the natural goodness in it, and imo it tastes way nicer than regular pasta! (Of course, I have some kind of weird allergy to regular pasta, so I’m biased, but you know…)
I have had wheat pasta. I must admit. I do not like it. I have never heard of spelt pasta before. I will have to look it up. I am intrigued!
Oh man. Victor and I were on such a roll. We were paper towel hoarding buddies but now I learn he doesn’t like tomatoes?! Or broccoli?!?! Say it isn’t so!!! Those are my favorite vegetables!
Off to sob into my hoard. ; )
Jenni
Yum, I’m a sucker for Italian! I love that this includes veggies for a little freshness 🙂
xo jac
thesunshinedistrict.blogspot.com
Thank you Jac! I do try to incorporate veggies into dinner whenever I can. These were so obvious, I worried my kids would not like the dish, but I was pleasantly surprised! : )
Have a super week!
Jenni
Yummy, that looks very nice. I want one now for my breakfast!
Thank you Stephen! Aww. Breakfast… I never seem to get to it. Just coffee most days. I am often too sleepy to make anything. : )
Have a marvelous day!
Jenni
So I’ve been home sick for four days drinking tea and eating mashed potatoes and mac and cheese, and this just looks so vibrant, and fresh, and healthful. I’m going to fantasize about this meal for when I feel better. I love cooking cherry tomatoes to oblivion, so I know I’ll love this dish.
<3 Liz
http://www.withwonderandwhimsy.com
I hope you are feeling better! Whenever I am sick all I want is spaghetti. It always makes me feel better. Please let me know if you try this. I am super excited about making this all summer long.
Get well soon! The weather is way too icky to feel sick (here it is windy and hot and you guys got all of that humidity).
Jenni