The picky kid was hungry and her usual go to is Mac and Cheese. For someone that hates cheese this was always a surprising choice. She would eat it every day if she could. So when she asked for me to make a Pasta Primavera I was fine with that idea. Except for the fact I had no more fresh vegetables. None. Nothing I could throw in except for some left over little tomatoes. The whole wheat spaghetti worked well with this. And there we had a perfect lunch. Pasta. Tomatoes. Pesto. A little cheese for me, none for Picky. And garlic. Garlic overload. I had already chopped up all the garlic and mixed it in the oil when I decided to throw in some pesto. An abundance of garlic. Just don't stand to close. We are pretty garlicky at this point. But boy was that good.
Whole Wheat Spaghetti with Pesto and Fresh Tomatoes
adapted by There's Always Thyme to Cook
1 pound whole wheat spaghetti or any pasta, cooked until al dente (about 7-8 minutes) save about 1/8 cup of the pasta cooking water
2 pints grape tomatoes, cherry tomatoes or any small tomato, sliced in half. Or 3 large tomatoes, diced
1/4 cup pesto (homemade or jarred)
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, pesto, and oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and let it marinate at room temperature for about 20 minutes.
Add the hot cooked spaghetti to the tomato mixture, pour in a little of the pasta cooking water and toss well. Sprinkle with the cheese, drizzle a bit more oil, if you like, and serve.
For more mosaics, stop by the Little Red House for Mosaic Monday
I thought I noticed a hint of garlic coming from my monitor when I clicked onto your blog ;)
ReplyDeleteYour pasta dish sure does look good! My picky 20 year old always requests homemade mac and cheese for her birthday dinner but she still loves the box kind too. Kids!
Hi Carol, this dish looks delicious. I have made something similar but it did not include the pesto. And I squashed the cherry tomatoes. I will try this again with the pesto. Thanks for sharing, hope you hare having a Happy Sunday!
ReplyDeleteI didn't eat lunch today and I wish this was waiting in the kitchen.
ReplyDelete~Judy
Nothing I like better than pasta and pesto!!!
ReplyDeleteI wish I was having this for dinner tonight - it looks simple and so delicious.
ReplyDeleteI have been craving pasta, this sounds great:@)
ReplyDeleteThis is the kind of pasta that I adore. Simple with the lovely flavors of garlic and fresh tomatoes. And who doesn't love pesto? I wish David would like fresh tomatoes more. We would have this often. It looks absolutely amazing!
ReplyDeleteI laughed about the garlic overload. In our culture, garlic drives the evil away.
ReplyDeleteI have tried wheat pasta, and not very fond of it.
I love whole wheat pasta...it gives the dishes a little nutty flavor! We love garlic, too! heehee! ♥
ReplyDeleteIt looks and sounds delicious! Doesn't every family have a picky kid? In my family, I am it.
ReplyDeleteHmm can be wrong with fresh tomatoes. That looks very yummy!
ReplyDeleteKim,USA
My son will eat mac and cheese every single day, happily. I WISH he'd ask for this instead!
ReplyDeleteI recall loving the mac and cheese in the blue box, and I bet I would still eat it if I had some in the cabinet! But this looks much better, and I'm glad Miss Picky enjoyed it :-)
ReplyDeleteMmmm. looks delicious! Thanks for sharing, Carol! xoxo
ReplyDeleteThis looks healthy and delicious!!!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds really good. I love how pretty the halved small tomatoes are.
ReplyDeleteSometimes the simplest recipes are the best. Looks delicious.
ReplyDeleteCHOW! A bit of Italy looks yummy! I love pesto, but don't use it often. What a fun and healthy dish.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Jann
this looks wonderful
ReplyDeleteThis is right up my alley! Yum.
ReplyDeleteThat should be my dinner today...
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful week,
Markus
Oh gosh, Carol, this looks so good! I am not eating carbs until after the wedding and I miss pasta so badly!
ReplyDeleteOh how delicious this looks!
ReplyDeleteMMmmmm - now that's one for a stay-at-home weekend.
ReplyDeleteOh my,but that looks tasty!! Wishing you well! Cathy
ReplyDeleteI love mac and cheese.
ReplyDeleteGreat looking lunch...I could eat pasta every day of the week!
ReplyDeleteThat's a healthy and tasty spaghetti dish!
ReplyDeleteCarol, beautiful pasta dish...I must admit that I never tried cooking whole wheat pasta, afraid that the textures is not good...but after seeing yours, I must give this a try. After all does look delicious and healthy ;-)
ReplyDeleteHope you are have a fantastic week ahead!
Yay, you found another way to use your whole wheat spaghetti! This looks so simple and tasty. And beautiful!
ReplyDeleteDelicious looking pasta and healthy too!
ReplyDeleteJust LOOKING at this makes me hungry!
ReplyDeletefresh tomatoes and garlic how can anyone possibly ask for more? The pickies are always a pain when it comes to feeding them!
ReplyDeleteWow that is one great lunch whipped up in a jiffy. If I could only get my family to eat whole wheat pasta...
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to have tomatoes growing outdoors again. This looks fresh and delicious. Would you believe I still haven't tried whole wheat pasta?
ReplyDeleteMy grands are mac 'n' cheese fans, too, but they would not eat this lovely dish. But Grandma surely would!
ReplyDeleteI love garlicky pasta dishes, and the simpler the better too! This sounds like a great lunch to me :)
ReplyDeleteIt is good you can get your family to eat the ww pasta. I tried but it got voted down.
ReplyDeleteIt looks delicious!
You can NEVER have too much garlic - it's a motto I live by. Love the pesto with the tomatoes, super colorful
ReplyDelete