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Fresh Garlic Scape Pesto Pasta Recipe Easy Perfect Summer Dinner

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A simple, fresh garlic scape pesto pasta that celebrates the flavors of summer with a bright, mild garlic pesto tossed through tender pasta. Quick and easy to prepare, perfect for warm summer nights.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup packed fresh garlic scapes, roughly chopped
  • 1/3 cup toasted walnuts (can substitute pine nuts or almonds)
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (Parmigiano-Reggiano recommended)
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 12 ounces (340 grams) pasta (linguine, spaghetti, or penne; whole wheat preferred)
  • Salt for pasta water
  • Optional garnishes: halved cherry tomatoes, extra Parmesan for sprinkling, fresh basil leaves

Instructions

  1. Toast the walnuts: Heat a dry skillet over medium heat. Add 1/3 cup walnuts and toast, stirring frequently, until fragrant and slightly golden (about 3-5 minutes). Remove from heat and let cool.
  2. Prepare the garlic scapes: Rinse about 1 cup of garlic scapes and roughly chop into 1-inch pieces, discarding any tough ends.
  3. Blend the pesto: Add garlic scapes, toasted walnuts, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan, and 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice to a food processor. Pulse a few times to combine.
  4. Add olive oil: With the processor running, slowly drizzle in 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil until the mixture is smooth but still has some texture. Stop and scrape down the sides as needed. Season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
  5. Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water (about 1 gallon / 4 quarts) to a boil. Add 12 ounces of pasta and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes depending on shape. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
  6. Toss pasta with pesto: Return drained pasta to the pot or a large bowl. Add pesto and toss to combine. Add reserved pasta water a little at a time to loosen the sauce and help it cling to the noodles.
  7. Optional finishing touches: Toss in halved cherry tomatoes or sprinkle extra Parmesan and fresh basil on top. Serve immediately while warm.

Notes

Use fresh, crisp garlic scapes for best flavor. Toast walnuts carefully to avoid burning. Pulse pesto to keep some texture. Reserve pasta water to loosen sauce and add silkiness. Add salt gradually due to Parmesan saltiness. Blend pesto right before tossing with pasta to keep color and flavor vibrant. For dairy-free, substitute Parmesan with nutritional yeast and use olive oil. Nut-free version can use toasted seeds instead of walnuts.

Nutrition

Keywords: garlic scape pesto, pesto pasta, summer dinner, easy pasta recipe, fresh garlic scapes, walnut pesto, vegetarian pasta

Find it online: https://tempotaste.com/fresh-garlic-scape-pesto-pasta-recipe-easy-perfect-summer-dinner/