This sun dried tomato pesto pasta is quick to make and perfect for an easy midweek meal. The leftover tomato pesto is great in lots of other simple recipes too!
Homemade pesto is one of my quick, easy and fail-safe recipes to make whenever I don't have much time or don't feel like spending a long time in the kitchen. What about you? What do you make on those days?
I love to make pesto with all kinds of nuts and a variety of herbs and greens. However, until now, I had never made a tomato pesto. I sometimes find sun-dried tomatoes a little strong. They can overpower all the other tastes.
However in a pesto that doesn't matter. In this pesto the sun dried tomatoes really are the star of the dish. The parmesan is also strong and it mellows out the strength of the tomatoes.
The inspiration for this sun dried tomato pesto pasta
This sun dried tomato pesto recipe is adapted from Gino's Pasta: Everything You Need to Cook the Italian Way by Gino D'Acampo. Although it is quite a simple recipe I adapted it a little. The original recipe contained 4 cloves of garlic! Ok, I love garlic but even for me I think that would be too much, especially as the garlic is barely cooked!
The sun-dried tomatoes I used had garlic in them but if they hadn't then one clove would probably be enough. As the sundried tomatoes were in oil, I used oil from the jar as it has all the lovely flavours of the tomatoes in it!
How I like to adapt this sun dried tomato pesto pasta
It's now a few years since I first made this sun dried tomato pesto recipe and I have to say I have changed how I make it over time. In fact, it's almost a different recipe these days but it started out as I've described above.
These days I don't bother toasting the nuts before making the pesto. In fact, I often use cashew nuts instead of almonds as they are softer and beautifully creamy.
I also often omit the parmesan cheese. This pesto is so delicious without parmesan that I don't think it's necessary.
How you could adapt this homemade tomato pesto?
As I've done, feel free to use different seeds or nuts instead of the almonds in the original recipe. Use more or less garlic depending on whether there is garlic in the tomatoes you use.
Experiment with adding parsley, coriander or rocket instead of the basil.
What to make with the leftover pesto?
I love having leftover pesto as there are so many recipes it can be used in. In fact, it's worth making a batch of this pesto just so you can use it in one of these recipes ideas:
- Swirl it into a soup. It's great in tomato based soups.
- Spread it onto a pizza base to make homemade pizzas
- Put it in a sandwich. It's great with chicken or raw veggies.
- Make this pesto chicken salad.
- Mash it into a baked potato
- Use it as a dip with raw veggies, pitta bread or tortilla chips
More Vegetarian Pasta Recipes
Recipe
Sun dried tomato pesto pasta
Ingredients
- 50 g almonds
- 70 g sun dried tomatoes in oil
- 1 clove garlic Use more to taste
- 10 g fresh basil
- 80 g parmesan grated
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil from the tomatoes
- pinch black pepper
Instructions
- If necessary take the skins off the almonds. Pour boiling water over them and leave for three minutes. Drain and then squeeze the almonds out of the skins. Toast in a dry frying pan until lightly browned.
- Put the almonds, tomatoes, garlic and basil leaves in a food processor, leaving most of the oil in the jar.
- Add a little more oil if it is too dry.
- Put the pesto in a container and mix in the parmesan and a little black pepper.
- Cook the pasta and when it is ready, stir in the pesto.
- Leftover pesto can be kept in the fridge and used over the next few days.
Notes
Nutrition
Pin for later
Balvinder
This looks so refreshing for a warm summer day. I love using sundried pesto as well as the green pesto in pasta.
Corina Blum
I'm glad you like it Balvinder! It does make a nice change from the green pesto.
Anna | Once Upon A Food Blog
I love sun-dried tomatoes full of all those summery flavours, especially at this time of year when we need to be given hope! A gorgeous looking recipe Corina.
Corina Blum
Thanks Anna! I am definitely excited and looking forward to summer right now.
Michelle Miller
This smells like summer in Italy and that is enough motivation for me to try and make this! Such amazing ingredients and flavors! And an interesting change from regular pesto! Genius!
Corina Blum
I wish I was in Italy in summer right now! This is the nearest I can get!
Kelly Anthony
I love how adaptable this recipe is. This sundried tomato pesto pasta will be perfect for any meal and anyone.
Corina Blum
I hope so! I have to admit that I rarely make a pesto recipe exactly the same twice as there are just so many variations you can make!
Claudia Lamascolo
What a great meal for summer, light and delicious flavors and I would eat this everyday! lovely recipe!
Corina Blum
Thanks! I will definitely be eating this a lot over the summer when I want a quick and easy meal.
Neli Howard
love this!! the smell of pasta with sun dried tomatoes reminds me of summer!!
Corina Blum
It is a great combination, isn't it?
Jacqui Bellefontaine
Love the idea of making your own sundried tomato pesto I bet it tastes really good Definitely going to try this. Thanks, Corina for linking to #CookBlogShare
Corina Blum
I'm glad you like it Jacqui and thanks for hosting!
jenny paulin
ooooh I have a jar of sun-dried tomatoes sitting in my cupboard and was wondering what I could make with them. I am going to give this a go next week if I remember! I love pasta dishes, well we all do here and am always looking for easy (and meat free) ways to cook it other than our usual family (meaty!) favs xx
Jhuls | The Not So Creative Cook
OMG! Corina, this is so yummy!! I could use a serving now! Thanks for sharing!
Corina Blum
Thansk Jhuls! I'm so pleased you like it.
Couscous & Consciousness
Corina - I love this dish. I love making my own pesto too, and I often forget about making sun-dried tomato pesto - thanks for reminding me. Actually one of my favourite ways of using sun-dried tomato pesto is tossing it through some baby potatoes which have been roasted with garlic cloves and rosemary.
Thanks so much for sharing this at Cookbook Sundays.
Sue xo
Corina
I love the idea of using it on baby potatoes!
Alessandra
Yummy! I found you on Cookbook Sunday at Sue's, I will like this :-).
Ciao
Alessandra
Toby @ Plate Fodder
I like the idea of pesto - but I've never been all that crazy about that much green on my pasta. Love the use of sun-dried tomatoes, though!
Corina
It's always good to try and make something traditional a little different. I even think a little chillli in this would be good!
Michelle
Visiting from Cookbook Sundays.
I've never had tomato pesto, but it looks fabulous!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips
I was intrigued by sundried tomato pesto, so had to check it out. Sounds yummy, but like you, I'd probably tone down the garlic too.
Shu Han
pesto is one of my failsafe recipes too! what's not to love about fresh herbs (or in this case sundried tomatoes yummmm) and a huge glug of good olive oil!
Lisa~~
The pesto sounds wonderful and I'm going to give this recipe a try.
Tina
Very interesting and never heard of red pesto! LOVE IT!
close to home
what a great twist on regular pesto, going to try this. CCC #80
Joan Hayes@chocolate and more
You know it's a good recipe when it's being passed from blogger to blogger! Looks wonderful!
lawstudentcook
This looks so good! Pesto is delicious, but I would never have considered a tomato pesto!
#71
ButterYum
Honestly, I love sun-dried tomato pesto - why in the world didn't I think of this? Fabulous post!
I hope you'll stop by and visit my CCC - #75 Spaghetti Pie
🙂
ButterYum
Winelady Cooks
This sounds delicious. I'm a big fan of sun dried tomatoes so I'm going to have to try this recipe.
Would love if you stop by, I'm #30 in the challenge.
Thanks for sharing,
Mangia!
Joanne
Kristin
I love the idea of tomato pesto! And with almonds!
#29
Jacqueline
You forgot to say how good this is Corina!! I love it 🙂
Corina
I don't know how I forgot to say that. It was absolutely delicious and I'll definitely be making it again!
Tandy
I love Jac's blog and this looks fantastic 🙂
Jacqueline
Awww, thanks Tandy, what a nice thing to say xx