Pesto Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes (Vegan, Gluten Free)

Pesto pasta with roasted tomatoes is a delicious summertime meal that comes together quickly.  Featuring fresh basil and cherry tomatoes, this pasta showcases some of summer's best produce.  Add this pesto pasta to your menu for an easy weeknight meal.

So, I guess I am going a little pesto crazy right now.  Last week I posted shaved asparagus salad with pesto, and this week pesto pasta.  But what screams summer more than fresh basil?  Trick question.  Tomatoes scream summer just as much as basil.  So I put them together in this divine medley of basil, tomato, lemon and pasta.  Just for you.

How to Make Pesto Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes

This pesto pasta recipe is nut free, oil free, gluten free and vegan, so this meal can truly satisfy any person in your life.  This meal comes to together in less than 30 minutes, so you can have dinner on the table in no time.

• First, roast your tomatoes in a 400F oven.
• Cook pasta according to package directions.  Reserve ¼ cup pasta water, drain and put pasta back in pan.
• While the tomatoes are roasting and pasta is boiling, make your pesto.  Add ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.  Set aside.
• Toss the pasta with the pesto and reheat if necessary.  Top with roasted tomatoes and sprinkle with vegan parmesan cheese if desired.  Enjoy!

How to Roast Tomatoes Without Oil

Roasting anything without oil felt perplexing to me when I first started cooking this way.  But after learning a few simple tricks, I've discovered its not hard at all.  The key is to keep whatever you're cooking moist so it doesn't dry out.  I do this by tossing whatever I'm making with water, broth, or in this case balsamic vinegar.

Preheat the oven to 400F.  Line a baking dish or sheet pan with parchment paper.  Add cherry tomatoes and minced garlic to pan and then drizzle with balsamic vinegar and water.  Toss to combine.  Roast in the oven for 20-25 minutes, tossing once halfway through.  Roast until the tomatoes start to blister and shrivel.  And, you're done.

Substitutions in Pesto Pasta

• Use store bought pesto.  Just be aware that many store-bough pestos contain parmesan cheese.  So, read the ingredients first if this is a concern for you.
• Use any nut or seed in place of the sunflower seeds in the pesto.
• Try using different herbs or greens in place of some or all of the basil in the pesto.
• Use any shape pasta in place of the fusilli pasta.
• Use rice, quinoa or any other gluten free grain in place of the pasta.

Can This Be Eaten as a Cold Pasta Salad?

I am glad you asked!  This recipe also makes a great cold pasta salad.  After draining the pasta, run under cold water and then proceed with the rest of the recipe.  This will keep in the fridge for a couple days, although the pesto will start to discolor and brown after the first day.

Pesto Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes

Pesto pasta with roasted tomatoes is a delicious summertime meal that comes together quickly.  Featuring fresh basil and cherry tomatoes, this pasta showcases some of summer’s best produce. 

5 from 1 vote

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Italian

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 389kcal

Ingredients

• 1 pint cherry tomatoes
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon water
• 12 ounces fusilli pasta gluten free, if necessary

Nut-Free Vegan Pesto (or use ¾ cup store bought pesto)*

• 2 cups loosely packed basil**
• ¼ cup sunflower seeds
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 clove garlic
• 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
• ¼ cup water
• ⅛ teaspoon salt or to taste

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400F. Line a small sheet pan or baking dish with parchment paper and set aside.
• Add the tomatoes and garlic to the prepared pan. Drizzle balsamic vinegar and water over the tomatoes and toss to thoroughly coat. Roast in the oven for 20-25 minutes, tossing once halfway through. Roast until the tomato skins start to split and shrivel slightly. Remove from oven and set aside.
• While the tomatoes are roasting cook the pasta according to package directions. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, drain and return pasta to pan.
• Make the pesto: While the tomatoes and pasta are cooking add all pesto ingredients to a blender or food processor. Process until smooth, adding more water as necessary a tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached.
• Toss the pesto with the drained pasta. If the pasta seems dry after adding the pesto, add reserved cooking water a tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached. Top with roasted tomatoes and enjoy!

Notes

*Store bought pesto often contains cheese, so if this is a concern for you make sure to read the ingredients list.

**You can swap some or all of the basil with parsley, spinach or other herbs or greens.

This recipe also makes a great cold pasta salad.  After draining the pasta, run under cold water and then proceed with the rest of the recipe.  This will keep in the fridge for a couple days, although the pesto will start to discolor and brown after the first day.

Nutrition

Calories: 389kcal | Carbohydrates: 72g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 136mg | Potassium: 431mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1211IU | Vitamin C: 32mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 3mg

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