Pesto pasta with mushroom and cherry tomatoes is an easy vegetarian pasta recipe in which I have used cilantro pesto instead of basil pesto. I have also added blanched almonds for making this pasta which complements the taste of cilantro leaves.
Today’s pesto pasta vegetarian recipe is an extremely healthy pasta recipe as it is made with pesto made from cilantro/coriander leaves. Addition of almonds makes this pesto a healthy one and complements the taste of cilantro leaves. You can even add walnuts instead of almonds. I have also added chili flakes as my husband loves it that way. You can avoid adding red chili flakes or paprika if you do not like too much heat.
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Pesto pasta ingredients:
- Pasta: I have used penne pasta to make these delicious penne pesto pasta. The recipe is healthy and loved by all.
- Vegetables: I have used mushrooms and cherry tomatoes in this recipe. Apart from this, vegetables like onion, bell pepper and cilantro leaves are used to make the delicious cilantro pesto.
- Spices and seasoning: Spices like garlic, red chili flakes or paprika, black pepper powder and seasoning like Italian seasoning is used in this penne pesto pasta.
- Almonds: I have used almonds to make the pesto, you can even add walnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pistachios, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, peanuts.
Step by step instructions to make pesto pasta with cherry tomatoes and mushrooms:
- Boil 4 cups water. When the water starts boiling add pasta and boil it al-dente.
- Drain the pasta and retain 1 cup of water in which pasta was boiled.
- While the pasta boils, keep the ingredients for pesto ready.
- In a blender, blend together peeled blanched almonds, chopped cilantro, chopped onion, and chopped bell pepper. Do not add water while blending this pesto. Once done, keep it aside.
- In a frying pan or skillet, add olive oil. When the oil heats, add garlic and toss.
- When the raw smell of garlic goes away, add chopped mushrooms, and fry them for 2 minutes.
- Add the sliced cherry tomatoes and fry for 1 minute.
- Next, add the prepared cilantro pesto sauce and give everything a nice stir.
- Add black pepper powder and mix well.
- Mix the drained pasta and add salt to taste.
- Garnish with Italian seasoning and red chili flakes or paprika.
- Serve it and enjoy it hot.
Other pasta recipes to try:
- Easy fusilli pasta with tomato
- Spaghetti pasta with mushroom and zucchini
- Cold pasta salad with potato
- Broccoli pesto pasta with pine nuts
- Lemon spaghetti with roasted shrimp
- Mixed veg spaghetti pasta
Notes to keep in mind while making this pesto pasta recipe Italian:
- Always cook pasta al-dente meaning, do not overcook pasta.
- Never add oil to water while boiling pasta as the sauce will not get coated properly to the pasta.
- Do not discard the water after cooking the pasta. This can be used if the sauce becomes thick.
- Addition of red chili flakes is optional.
- Cherry tomatoes can be added full without slicing them. This will make the pasta look even more better.
- You can add parmesan cheese for garnishing the pasta, I skipped this step.
- To make blanched almonds, simply add the almonds to 1/2 cup water in a mug and microwave for 1 minute. After cooling, the peel comes off easily. If you do not have a microwave, boil water, and add almonds to it and soak for 30 minutes.
I love Italian cuisine and try different Italian recipes at home. One of the favorite dishes that I try at home is the Pasta. It is a real time saver specially on those days when I return tired from office. Whipping up pasta and having it as a meal is easier than cooking Indian meal like rotis and subzi or dal, rice and subzi.
I try different recipes of pasta at home, and I make several types of sauces too. The relationship of pasta and sauces is very romantic. They dance with each other if combined properly. Flat pastas and ridged pastas like fusilli and penne should be cooked in creamier sauces and thin pastas like spaghetti should be cooked in thin and lighter sauces.
Pesto Pasta With Mushroom and Cherry Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 1 cup Penne pasta
- 8 garlic cloves chopped
- 5 button mushrooms
- 6 cherry tomatoes sliced
- 4 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon black pepper powder
- 1 teaspoon red chili flake optional
- 2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- To taste salt
For the pesto:
- 1.5 cups cilantro leaves chopped
- 10 almonds blanched , check notes
- 1/2 cup onion finely chopped
- 1/2 medium sized chopped bell pepper
Instructions
- Boil 4 cups water. When the water starts boiling add pasta and boil it al-dente.
- Drain the pasta and retain one cup of water in which pasta was boiled.
- While the pasta boils, keep the ingredients for pesto ready.
- In a blender, blend together peeled blanched almonds, chopped cilantro, chopped onion, and chopped bell pepper. Do not add water while blending this pesto. Once done, keep it aside.
- In a frying pan or skillet, add olive oil. When the oil heats, add garlic and toss.
- When the raw smell of garlic goes away, add chopped mushrooms, and fry them for 2 minutes.
- Add the sliced cherry tomatoes and fry for 1 minute.
- Next, add the prepared cilantro pesto sauce and give everything a nice stir.
- Add black pepper powder and mix well.
- Mix the drained pasta and add salt to taste.
- Garnish with Italian seasoning and red chili flakes or paprika.
- Serve it and enjoy it hot 🙂
Video
Notes
- Always cook pasta al-dente meaning, do not overcook pasta.
- Never add oil to water while boiling pasta as the sauce will not get coated properly to the pasta.
- Do not discard the water after cooking the pasta. This can be used if the sauce becomes thick.
- Addition of red chili flakes is optional.
- Cherry tomatoes can be added full without slicing them. This will make the pasta look even more better.
- You can add parmesan cheese for garnishing the pasta, I skipped this step.
- To make blanched almonds, simply add the almonds to 1/2 cup water in a mug and microwave for 1 minute. After cooling, the peel comes off easily. If you do not have a microwave, boil water, and add almonds to it and soak for 30 minutes.
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Note: This post was written on 17th Aug 2015 and is republished. The post might contain affiliate links.
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