Ingredients
8 servings
- •1 cup fresh basil leaves
- •0.5 cup Parmesan cheese
- •0.25 cup pine nuts
- •0.25 cup olive oil
- •2 tablespoons lemon juice
- •2 cloves garlic, minced
- •4 cups mini penne pasta
- •2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- •0.25 cup pine nuts
- •1 cup chopped asparagus
- •0.5 cup sliced zucchini
- •0.5 cup sliced Kalamata olives
- •0.5 cup diced roasted red pepper
- •0.5 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
- •0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Make pesto: Combine basil, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic in a food processor; blend until well combined and consistency is that of fresh pesto.
- Start pasta: Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook penne in boiling water until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Pour 1 tablespoon olive oil over the pasta and toss to coat.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add pine nuts and toss in hot oil until lightly browned, 1 to 2 minutes; remove to a plate and set aside.
- Add asparagus, zucchini, olives, red pepper, and sun-dried tomatoes to the skillet; cook and stir until hot, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir pine nuts into the vegetable mixture.
- Add cooked pasta and about 1/4 cup of the pesto, or more to your liking, to the skillet and toss to combine.
- Serve in bowls topped with grated Parmesan cheese.
Nutritional Facts
Per 8 servings
- Calories: 368
- Carbohydrate: 34g
- Fat: 21g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 13g
- Sugar: 3g