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Fresh Garlic Scape Pesto Pasta Recipe with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes

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A quick and easy pasta dish featuring a vibrant garlic scape pesto paired with sweet, oven-roasted cherry tomatoes. Perfect for spring and early summer, this recipe delivers fresh, comforting flavors with minimal fuss.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup chopped garlic scapes (about 10–12 scapes)
  • 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
  • 12 ounces pasta (spaghetti, linguine, or penne)
  • 1/3 cup toasted pine nuts or walnuts (about 40 grams)
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil (120 ml)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • Salt to taste
  • Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
  • Optional: handful of fresh basil leaves or parsley

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Toss halved cherry tomatoes with 1 tablespoon olive oil and a pinch of salt. Spread on a baking sheet in a single layer and roast for 15-20 minutes until soft and caramelized.
  2. While tomatoes roast, roughly chop garlic scapes and toast pine nuts or walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes until fragrant and golden.
  3. In a food processor, combine chopped garlic scapes, toasted nuts, grated Parmesan, lemon juice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Pulse a few times to start blending.
  4. With the processor running, slowly drizzle in 1/2 cup olive oil. Blend until smooth but still slightly textured. Adjust salt or lemon juice to taste.
  5. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente (8-10 minutes). Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
  6. Drain pasta and return to pot. Add garlic scape pesto and a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen sauce. Toss gently to coat evenly, adding more pasta water if needed.
  7. Fold in roasted cherry tomatoes carefully to avoid mashing. Taste and add freshly cracked pepper and more salt if desired.
  8. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh basil or parsley and extra Parmesan if desired.

Notes

If pesto tastes bitter, add a bit more lemon juice or a teaspoon of honey to balance flavors. Let pasta rest a minute after draining to help pesto cling better. Use a dark metal baking sheet for better tomato caramelization. For dairy-free, substitute Parmesan with nutritional yeast or vegan cheese. For gluten-free, use brown rice or chickpea pasta.

Nutrition

Keywords: garlic scape pesto, roasted cherry tomatoes, pasta recipe, spring pasta, easy dinner, vegetarian pasta, fresh pesto

Find it online: https://yumnode.com/fresh-garlic-scape-pesto-pasta-recipe-with-roasted-cherry-tomatoes-easy-and-delicious-2/