1 April 2009

Pesto & Chargrilled Vegetable Pasta




Two pasta dishes in the same week? I am afraid not...even if I would have loved that!!! This dish made an appearance last week and it sure was tasty and heart-healthy. Ruth over at Once Upon a Feast recently celebrated Presto Pasta Night's second birthday!!!! I don't make pasta nearly as often as I would like to or should, but, I do try and join in on the fun whenever I do over at Presto Pasta Nights. I found this recipe on Taste.com.au which is an Australian site and added a few twists to make it my own.

**Pesto & Chargrilled Vegetable Spaghetti**

400g dried spaghetti
1/2 cup kalamata olives
3 - 4 campari tomatoes
100g eggplant, sliced horizontally
100g green or red pepper, cut in half and seeded

Basil and Parsley Pesto

1/3 cup pine nuts, toasted
1 bunch basil, leaves picked
1 bunch flat-leaf parsley, leaves picked
2 garlic cloves
2 T olive oil
1/3 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
1/2 lemon, juiced

*************************
Make basil and parsley pesto: Place pine nuts, basil, parsley and garlic in food processor. Process until roughly chopped. With motor still running, pour oil into feed tube in a slow and steady stream until oil is incorporated. Add parmesan and lemon juice. Process to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

Barbeque vegetables over medium heat on barbecue. Grill eggplant approximately 3 minutes per side depending on thickness, tomatoes 2 minutes (until skin is loosened and can be removed), peppers until blackened on outside. (Put peppers in a brown paper bag for 10 minutes and then remove skins and slice into strips).

Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling, salted water for 10 to 12 minutes or until tender. Drain, reserving 1/4 cup water.
Return pasta to saucepan over low heat. Add 1/2 cup pesto (see note), olives, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers and reserved water. Toss until well combined and heated through. Serve immediately.

NOTE: Place remaining pesto in an airtight container. Cover surface with a thin layer of oil. Seal. Refrigerate for up to 1 month.

Serves 4
Best Blogger Tips

22 comments:

  1. These chargrilled veggies must be very flavorful! What a wonderful pasta dish!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    ReplyDelete
  2. Another great pasta recipe Val. I feel like I'm visiting a well stocked cookbook shop, & am lovin' it. Made the grilled thyme chicken this afternoon with my first crop of thyme. Your recipe was great...& I loved the idea that the tomatoes share the same taste through the marinade. Gracias!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. That is my kind of pasta. Looks amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  4. simple and delicious flavors...this pasta look great!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I feel like I've been making a ton of pasta lately. I'll have to add this to this list with a little grilled chicken since both Thatboy and Thatmom like a little more protein with their pasta.

    ReplyDelete
  6. That looks like a beautiful dish - nice and fresh!

    ReplyDelete
  7. This looks scrumptious!!! When I was growing up we always had pasta on a daily basis. Italians eat pasta as a first dish and everything else comes after (including the salad). :-)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love the eggplant in this pasta dish and it's not too loaded with cheese and fattening cream.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Just the word chargrilled makes me want this...I love it!

    ReplyDelete
  10. loved the addition of char-grilled veggies to it..that must have added such a wonderful flavour to it!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I don't make pasta very often, but your delicious pasta creations always have me craving it. It is soon time to try out my new pasta machine!

    ReplyDelete
  12. That smokey, nutty flavor must be intense.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Love your own version. We eat pasta often. It's so delicious and quick to make.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Spring pasta! I love it as I continue to wait ... and wait ... it looks wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love grilled veggies and to have it in a pasta dish...even better!!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. perfect pesto pasta, and tossing in some grilled flavor is a spectacular touch. this makes me rethink the alfredo sauce i have in mind for the weekend. :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. This is beautiful and can easily become a "go to" dinner plan when summer arrives and we grill every night for dinner. Grilling pasta toppers? Brilliant!

    ReplyDelete
  18. pesto, pasta and grilled eggplant...that's a really good thing.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Paste and pesto and veggies: You're making me dream of summer! All we have right now is April showers (and a very green lawn!)

    What a gorgeous meal.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Lovely pasta dish Val! The flavor of the pesto sounds amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I could easily eat this a couple times a week Val, Love it! Love your photo too!
    xox, Marie

    ReplyDelete
  22. What a heavenly dish. Almost makes me think Spring is really here! Thanks for sharing with Presto Pasta Nights.

    ReplyDelete

Welcome to my home. Thank you for choosing to stay a while and for sharing our lives through food. I appreciate all your support, comments, suggestions, and daily encouragement.

Val

This blog uses comment moderation therefore SPAMMERS, SELF-PROMOTERS and ADVERTISERS will be deleted.