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Tomato Pesto

I could get lost in this bowl of pasta
This recipe struck me as very interesting. However, I was a afraid that by using tomato paste it was going to be very heavy tasting. It was actually quite good and not too strong on the tomato paste.

Tomato Pesto (Adapted from Cooking Pleasures)

1/4 c pine nuts
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 c olive oil
6oz tomato paste
1/4 c fresh parsley
salt/pepper
1 1lb of pasta
1/4 c Parmesan cheese

Cook pasta according to directions. In a small skillet, toast pine nuts. Remove from pan and place in food processor. Saute garlic in 1T of olive oil.  Place in food processor. Add tomato paste, parsley, salt and pepper. Pulse until smooth. Place pesto in a serving bowl. Reserve some pasta water. Add pasta to serving bowl and mix.  Add reserved pasta water until sauce is to desired consistency. Add Parmesan and stir through.


It is a very quick recipe to pull together. All the work is done while the pasta is cooking.  The original recipe did not toast the pine nuts or saute the garlic. I felt it necessary to bring out more of the flavor of the pine nuts by toasting them and toning down the garlic by sauteing it. Definitely the right decision. Have you noticed I'm a carb junkie??


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