This pesto pasta with cherry tomatoes is super quick and easy to make, ideal for lighter lunch or dinner. Ready in just 15 minutes, and packed with fresh, healthy ingredients!
Happy Tuesday!
Easter is only few days away (I know, I can't believe it either!), and before we all indulge on chocolate eggs, I'm popping over here with this healthy pesto pasta recipe!
After my last week's easy 5-minute vegan pesto recipe, I thought it's only fair to post this pesto pasta to go with it. And because it's Spring, and because we all are beginning to crave fresh, lighter, more vibrant foods!
It's not a secret that pasta is one of my favourite foods, and I'm pretty sure, that this will be the case with quiet few of you my lovely readers, am I right? Because pasta is just the best, it's easy, and it does the trick every time you are hungry and in need of a quick meal. Plus it's cheap, cheerful and delicious! What's not to like?!?
Pesto pasta, in my opinion, is pretty good to be eaten on it's own. But cherry tomatoes go so well with it, and they add such a lovely splash of vibrant colours to this dish, which is much needed after miserable winter months...
You can also serve this pasta dish hot or cold, and it will be great if you are doing any meal prepping, as it can be made ahead of time. Perfect for a packed lunch to work, or for a spring picnic with the family!
Make sure to reserve some of that pasta cooking liquid (aka cooking gold) for later, as it will create this velvety, silky-smooth finish to your dish. In fact, I always reserve some of that starchy water, whenever I'm making a pasta based dish, because it just helps to bind and thicken the sauce. So make sure you don't just pour it all down the drain!
This pesto pasta with cherry tomatoes is one of the easiest and quickest recipes you will find on this blog, and I really hope you will like it as much as I do!
And before I forget- have a great Easter holidays (we are off to Ireland for few days- YAYYYY!), whatever you are up to! Talk soon!
A.
And before I forget- have a great Easter holidays (we are off to Ireland for few days- YAYYYY!)!!!
Pesto Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 250 g whole grain spaghetti
- 250 g ripe cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small garlic clove (finely chopped)
- 4 tablespoon easy vegan pesto (see recipe notes)
- 2 tablespoon toasted pine nuts (optional)
salt and pepper to taste
fresh basil leaves to decorate
Instructions
- Toss the tomatoes with olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper and set aside.
- Cook your pasta according to packet instructions or until al dente, drain, reserving about 100 ml of cooking liquid.
- Return cooked pasta to the pot, add pesto and cherry tomatoes, as well as some of the reserved cooking liquid, toss it all together over the medium heat until piping hot.
- Top with toasted pine nuts and fresh basil leaves. Enjoy!
Please note that all my recipes are developed and tested in metric grams. I recommend that you use digital scales for a more accurate results. I have provided a conversion to US customary in the recipe but please note that I haven’t tested using this method.
Debbey
Love the addition of the different colored cherry tomatoes! Makes the dish look super pretty! And also love a good pesto and yours looks delish!
annabanana
thanks so much Debbey!
I'm so happy to hear you like the recipe, and I really hope you will get to try the pesto, it's really worth it!
Tatiana
Beautiful and healthy combo of pesto and fresh cherry tomatoes! In my house we call it a perfect meal
annabanana
Awww thanks Tatiana!
Glad you like the recipe! And that is a perfect name for it! 😉
Sara
This looks really yummy! I can't wait to try your recipe!
annabanana
Thanks Sara. Let me know if you try it!
Amanda
This pasta recipe is making me SO excited that summer and prime tomato season are right around the corner! I can see myself eating this all summer long. So bright and fresh, and light, yet satisfying!
annabanana
Totally! Bring on all the summer al fresco dining and fresh produce of the new season! Can't wait too!
Jessica Pinney
My tomato bushes are just starting to bloom and this looks like a wonderful dish to utilize the first harvest. Thanks for sharing!
annabanana
Yayyy! That's so great to hear Jessica, I hope your first harvest will bring you many delicious tomatoes!
And thanks so much!
Anne Murphy
So simple, so basic - so good... I like the addition of the cherry tomatoes - you're right, the splash of color and tangy sweetness add so much!
annabanana
thanks Anne, I'm so glad to read that you like this recipe! Cherry tomatoes are just bursting with flavour, I can eat them like raisins! 🙂
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way
Great tips!! And some of the simplest recipes are the greatest. I've made this recipe many times. We love the small tomatoes - they're a welcome addition to most recipes. This recipe is so light and fresh and yet so satisfying. The photos just make me want to dig in.
annabanana
Hey Marisa, and thanks so much!
I'm so pleased to hear you have made this recipe many times! And couldn't agree more, simple dishes are often the tastiest ones!
Patti @ Patty Cake's Pantry
This is such a light and delicious pasta dish. You mentioned the cherry tomatoes. Have you ever made a sauce by blending cherry tomatoes and then heating them on the stove? It's so simple and delicious, and the combination of flavor possibilities is endless. I could even add a little of your vegan pesto to my next batch. Delicious!
annabanana
Hey Patti!
Thanks so much for kind words! And I must admit, I've not tried to make cherry tomato sauce that way, but I'm so curious now, I think I will give it a go!
Ela
Your pesto pasta looks amazing, Anna!! I am getting hungry 😀
annabanana
hah, Ela, thanks so much for stopping by!
And you're welcome! I ALWAYS get hungry when seeing your recipes! 🙂
Jen
This is such a perfect Spring recipe. I love the tomatoes. Beautiful pictures and beautiful recipe. Thanks for sharing.
annabanana
thank you so much Jen!
I'm so chuffed to hear you like the recipe and my pictures! Hope you will get to try it some time soon!
Linda from Veganosity
Pasta is my favorite too, especially with a fresh and flavorful pesto! This looks amazing!!
annabanana
Aww thanks so much Linda!
Simple dishes like this are the best ones! And fresh pesto is just perfect condiment to have in the kitchen!
dixya @food, pleasure, and health
love your photography...this is such a Summer friendly pasta dish.
annabanana
Hi Dixya, and thanks so much, that's so kind of you!
Happy to hear you like the recipe for this pesto pasta!
Kat Jeter
What a beautiful dish I love how light and fresh it is. Tomatoes and basil grow like crazy in my garden in the summer so I can't wait to make this.
annabanana
Thanks Kat, so happy you like it! And if you ever find yourself with too many tomatoes or basil, send them my way, would ya? 😉 Hope you will enjoy this one!
Jasmin / VeeatCookBake
Pesto Pasta is one of the best pasta meals. 🙂
annabanana
it sure is Jasmin! can't go wrong with it, and it works every time!
Jenn
I love pesto! Can't wait until my garden gets going and I have all the fresh herbs and tomatoes!
annabanana
Lucky you! I would love to have my own garden to grow veggies in! I hope you will get to try it, and thanks so much!
Dominique | Perchance to Cook
I love the idea to use raw cherry tomatoes here. The fresh tomatoes against the warm pasta with pesto sauce sounds so delightful. I want a big bowl!
annabanana
Thanks so much Dominique!
You deserve a massive bowl of this deliciousness! And I do prefer raw tomatoes, although both versions will work great with the recipe!
Rachel
I agree that it's so important to save some of the pasta water. It can really make a pasta dish! This one looks so fresh and vibrant and your photos are beautiful. Sometimes the simplest meals are the best ones!
annabanana
That's so great to hear Rachel!
I always cry a bit inside, when I see someone is pouring all that water straight to the drain! It gives such a wonderful finish to pasta! Glad you like it too!
Nicole Dawson
I love the simplicity of pesto and tomatoes on pasta. YUM
annabanana
thanks Nicole! Sometimes simple things are just best in life, right?
Michelle
This pesto pasta is so colorful and healthy. I love the mix of yellow and red tomatoes you used. I grow those in my garden every summer. I'll definitely be making this recipe! Yum.
annabanana
Aww thanks so much Michelle! And you are so lucky to grow your own, it's a dream of mine to have my own garden one day and do the same! I really hope you will like the recipe, and let me know if you try it!
Leslie
Mmmm. I love pasta with fresh tomatoes. It's so light and fresh. Perfect for the summer months coming up! Yum!
annabanana
yes! Definitely a great option for the summer BBQ's and picnics in the park! Thanks so much Leslie!
Danielle
Simple, elegant, seasonal, beautiful - basically summer perfection. I'm always looking for vegan pesto recipes and excited to give yours a try!
annabanana
That's so great to hear Danielle! This dish will be perfect for summer gatherings, but it's great all year around really! 😉
I hope you will try it some time soon, and if you do, let me know how did you get on!
Sharmaine
Excellent recipe. My boys loved it. So easy and quick to make. Thanks so much.
Anna
Thank you so much, I'm so happy to hear that!
Sunrita
Simple things are always the tastiest! I will be making this one for sure, I can see my children clearing their plates!
annabanana
Thanks Sunrita,
So happy to hear that you like it! And I do hope the little ones will enjoy it too!
Silvia
I love everything about this recipe. It looks like the perfect way to embrace Spring.
annabanana
Hey Silvia, thanks so much! It is a great dish to celebrate the new season with, and I'm glad you also think so!