Sicilian sun dried tomato pesto penne recipe (2024)

A super easy pasta dish made with te most flavorful sun dried tomato pesto! 6 ingredients and less than 15 minutes to make this delicious meal!
Sicilian sun dried tomato pesto penne recipe (1)

My family loves pasta! It’s probably the only meal I can feed to them every single night for dinner and they never get tired of. And I don’t blame them! There are a million ways to cook pasta. The classic pasta and meatballs,pasta with marinara sauce, pasta with pesto, pasta with alfredo sauce to name just a few.

My husband is not a food adventurer. He prefers to stay with the classics. On rare occasions he would try something new, but don’t hold your breath.

Me, on the other hand, I love to try something new. Something I haven’t tried before. I’m always looking for that dish that will make me weak to my knees.

Sicilian sun dried tomato pesto penne recipe (2)

While in Sicily this summer we tried all kinds of pasta. The classics made by Italians plus new flavors that are very popular over there using locally grown ingredients.

There were 2 local pasta dishes that made my heart sing – Pasta with Sicilian Pesto and Pasta with Pistachio pesto.

Today we’re going to talk about Sicilian pesto with penne to celebrate #HealthyPastaMonth a month-long celebration of everything pasta organized by Dreamfields.

Why Dreamfields pasta? Dreamfields pasta offers more health benefits than traditional pasta with 5 grams of fiber and 7 grams of protein per serving. Dreamfields is made with premium durum wheat semolina in North Dakota and it has the same delicious taste and texture of traditional pasta.

Sicilian sun dried tomato pesto penne recipe (3)

Sicilian pesto is different from the classic pesto we all know. It’s not bright green obviously!

It’s vibrant red color comes from sun-dried tomatoes. Sicily is the greenhouse of the entire Italy and it’s only normal they use the abundance of locally grown vegetables in their dishes.

During our vacation in Sicily, we ate several times pasta with Sicilian pesto and made in different ways. Some of the Sicilian pesto is made using fresh tomatoes, some use sun-dried tomatoes and others, my favorite, sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil!

The oil the tomatoes are packed in is filled with so much flavor, it would be a shame not to use it!

Another twist on the recipe is the use of almonds. Noto almonds!

Noto is a small town, few miles outside Syracuse and the almonds grown there are considered one of the protected foods of Sicily (Slow food Italy). We munched on Noto almonds there but because of their high price, for this recipe I used American store-bought almonds.
Sicilian sun dried tomato pesto penne recipe (4)

Becuase the pesto is made with no additional oil, it’s really thick. To smooth it out you’ll need to mix it with warm pasta and a few ladles of pasta water. Now it’s up to you how thick or thin you prefer your sauce. My advice is to start with 1 ladle and go from there.

Want to win some of your very own Dreamfield’s Pasta?Here’s how …. courtesy of Dreamfields Pasta

GIVEAWAY:
A family prize pack of Dreamfields Pasta PLUS a $25 gift card to spend as you choose!

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment below letting me know what’s the first dish you’ll be making using Dreamfields Pasta. That’s it!

For additional entries, share this post on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest using the hashtag #HealthyPastaMonth.Then, leave me a comment BELOW letting me know you did.

RULES:

The contest is open to those 18 years of age or older and that have a valid continental US mailing address. No purchase necessary. Odds of winning depend on the number of entries. One winner will be randomly chosen on November 7th 2015 and notified via email. The winner has 48 hours to reply or they forfeit prize and an alternate winner will be drawn.

Good luck!

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Sicilian sun dried tomato pesto penne recipe

Yields 6 servings

A super easy pasta dish made with the most flavorful sun dried tomato pesto! 6 ingredients and less than 15 minutes to make this delicious meal!

10 minPrep Time

10 minCook Time

Sicilian sun dried tomato pesto penne recipe (8)Save Recipe

Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 box Dreamfields Penne Rigate
  • 1/4 cup almonds
  • 1 jar (8.5 ounces) sun-dried tomatoes packed in olive oil
  • 1 cup packed fresh basil leaves
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
  • Pinch of salt
  • Pinch of pepper

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking liquid prior to
  2. draining. Place in large bowl; set aside.
  3. Meanwhile, place almonds in food processor container. Pulse until almonds resemble breadcrumbs.
  4. Add tomatoes with oil, basil, garlic, Parmesan, salt and pepper; process until blended completely with a creamy texture.
  5. Add pesto mixture to pasta. Stir in enough reserved cooking liquid to create a smooth silky sauce coating the pasta.

Notes

Nutrition information (1/6 of recipe): 390 calories; 14 g protein; 59 g carbohydrates; 17 g total fat; 1 g saturated fat; less than 5 mg cholesterol; 100 mg sodium; 8 g total dietary fiber.

7.6.8

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Roxana Yawgel http://atreatsaffair.com/ All images and content are copyright protected. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If you want to republish this recipe, please re-write the recipe in your own words, or simply link back to this post for the recipe. Thank you.

Sicilian sun dried tomato pesto penne recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in classico sun dried tomato pesto? ›

'TOMATO PUREE (WATER, TOMATO PASTE), WATER, SUN-DRIED TOMATOES (CONTAINS SULFITES), BASIL, SOYBEAN OIL, ONIONS, GARLIC, RED BELL PEPPERS, PARMESAN CHEESE (PART SKIM MILK, CHEESE CULTURES, SALT, ENZYMES), OLIVE OIL, ROMANO CHEESE (COWS MILK, CHEESE CULTURES, SALT, ENZYMES), SALT, RED WINE VINEGAR, DEHYDRATED ONIONS, ...

Is sundried tomato paste the same as sundried tomato pesto? ›

There's a little difference between pesto and paste. Usually pesto recipes call for parmesan cheese and garlic, and their consistency is runny and more suitable for pasta recipes. Instead, paste recipes don't use cheese, the garlic is optional, and the consistency is more stiff and less runny.

How many calories are in pesto and sundried tomato pasta? ›

Energy: 253 calories
Protein7.3g
Carbs25.7g
Fat13g

Can you use sun dried tomato pesto instead of sundried tomatoes? ›

Sure you can. But you'll need to be aware of the other flavors that come along with sun dried tomato pesto, like garlic, basil, olive oil, and parmesan cheese. And depending on what you're making, things like texture, structure, and cooking time may be altered.

How long does sun dried tomato pesto last after opening? ›

Made according to an authentic Italian recipe, this wonderfully intense pesto captures the flavor of sun-dried tomatoes perfectly. Shake well before use. Once opened keep refrigerated and use within two weeks.

What is the shelf life of sundried tomato pesto? ›

We recommend storing the Bella Sun Luci Pesto, Bruschetta, and Chipotle Sun Dried Tomato products in the refrigerator, once opened and use within ten days.

What can I use instead of sun dried tomato pesto? ›

1. Basil Pesto: Traditional basil pesto is a great option, made with fresh basil, pine nuts, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil. 2. Red Pepper Pesto: Roasted red pepper pesto offers a sweet and smoky alternative with red peppers, almonds, garlic, and olive oil.

Do sundried tomatoes in oil go bad? ›

Check the expiration date on a container of oil-packed tomatoes; it should be anywhere from one to two years. Sun-dried tomatoes stored in oil are shelf-stable until opened, but once you break the seal you'll need to store them in the refrigerator. There, they'll stay edible for up to six months.

How long does sundried tomato paste last in the fridge? ›

Once opened, keep refrigerated and use within 6 weeks (if drying out, top up your jar with extra-virgin olive oil).

Is pesto pasta healthier than tomato pasta? ›

The Bottom Line. Pesto is higher in calories than some sauces but it's also made with super-healthy ingredients, like basil, olive oil and nuts. I find it's a great way to add more flavor to pasta dishes and even vegetables and proteins.

Is pesto pasta healthier than tomato sauce? ›

Marinara sauce also contain fair amounts of protein, sodium, dietary fiber, carbohydrates, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and iron. So although pesto sauce does contain a slightly higher amount of nutrients, it has a significantly higher amount of fat and calories as well.

What is the highest calorie pesto? ›

Daylesford Organic tops our list of high-calorie pestos with a staggering 654 calories per 100g.

Is sun dried tomato pesto good for you? ›

Sun dried tomatoes are an excellent source of lycopene, which may help reduce the risk of some health conditions like certain cancers and age-related macular degeneration. Sun dried tomatoes are also a good source of: Vitamin C. Vitamin K.

Is sun dried tomato pesto good on pizza? ›

The mouth-watering umami of mushrooms, artichokes, sun-dried tomato pesto and more make this one truly incredible pizza. It's a delicious plant-based meal everyone is sure to love.

Why are sun-dried tomatoes so expensive? ›

Sun dried tomatoes are very labor intensive. This drives the cost of production up significantly. They need to be hand harvested and, after the drying process, they need to be peeled.

Are there nuts in classico pesto? ›

This pesto has the texture of a classic usually made with pine nuts and basil. But there are no pine nuts in it. Flavor is a rich salty basil w parmesan cut to make you think you're eating pine nuts, compared to Barilla pesto, which is basil and spinach.

What is tomato pesto made of? ›

Place sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts, onion, basil, parsley, and garlic in a food processor or blender; process until well blended. Add crushed tomatoes, vinegar, red wine, and tomato paste; blend to desired consistency. Stir in olive oil and Parmesan cheese; season to taste.

What are the ingredients in store bought pesto? ›

High-quality store-bought pesto will have a vibrant green color, a fresh and aromatic aroma, and a balanced flavor profile with a good balance of basil, garlic, pine nuts, and Parmesan cheese. It should also have a smooth and creamy consistency.

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