Description
A vibrant pasta dish combining fresh basil pesto with sweet, caramelized cherry tomatoes for an elegant weeknight dinner or special occasion meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz cavatappi pasta (or your preferred pasta shape)
- 1/2 cup pesto (homemade or high-quality store-bought)
- 1 pint fresh cherry tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze for finishing
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. In a baking dish, toss cherry tomatoes with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
- Roast tomatoes for 20 minutes until they’re bursting and slightly caramelized around the edges.
- Meanwhile, cook cavatappi pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
- Toss hot pasta with pesto, adding reserved pasta water gradually until you achieve a creamy consistency that coats the pasta.
- Top pasta with roasted tomatoes, drizzle with balsamic glaze, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, and garnish with fresh basil leaves.
Notes
- Don’t skip reserving pasta water – its starch content creates the perfect creamy consistency when mixed with pesto
- Use room temperature pesto for easier mixing and better flavor distribution throughout the pasta
- Roast tomatoes until they’re just bursting but not completely collapsed to maintain some texture
- Toss pasta with pesto while both are still warm for optimal sauce adherence and flavor melding
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat gently with pasta water or olive oil
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 390mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 43g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
Keywords: pesto pasta roasted tomatoes, cherry tomato pasta, basil pesto recipe, Italian pasta dishes, weeknight dinner ideas, roasted tomato recipes, cavatappi pasta, easy pasta recipes