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    Home » Recipes » Entrées

    Published: Mar 22, 2022 · Modified: Jul 19, 2022 by Gus · This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links.

    Sun-dried Tomato Pesto Pasta | Vegan

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    sun-dried tomato pesto pasta pin
    VGF

    Looking for a quick and easy way to add some flavor to your meals? This sun-dried tomato pesto sauce is the perfect solution! It only takes a few minutes to prepare. It's vegan and can be easily made gluten-free friendly.

    sun-dried tomato pesto pasta
    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    This sun-dried tomato pesto sauce is the perfect weeknight meal. It takes only 15 minutes to make, and it's super delicious. We will show you how to make this tasty pesto sauce with just a few simple ingredients.

    It is common to make pasta recipes with sun-dried tomatoes here in Italy, such as ravioli fillings and sun-dried tomatoes risottos.

    Although tomatoes are not native to Italy but to Mexico and Central America, they grow very well on Italian soil. The production is vast, and it is widespread to see tomatoes year-round and find all different kinds of sun-dried tomatoes at the farmer's market.

    Buying sun-dried tomatoes and Pinenuts at our local Farmer's market in Northern Italy

    We like to use the sweeter kinds, but there are many varieties. If you love tomatoes, you can really go crazy with all the different types you can find.

    This vegan pesto rosso recipe, as they call it here, makes the perfect hassle-free pasta.

    fork with sun-dried tomato pesto pasta

    This is a vegan version as it doesn't use regular parmesan cheese but nutritional yeast instead.

    We love pesto, as they are a flavorful preparation that is perfect for elevating any bland meal. They are at the top of our vegan sauces choices!

    We have previously shared our different pesto varieties, as we love veganizing all kinds of traditional pesto recipes we find around here.

    Be sure to check our 5-minute pesto (vegan basil pesto), kale pesto, arugula pesto, mint pesto, pistachio pesto, and our carrot tops pesto, along with a vast list of pesto recipes, including sandwiches, pizza sauce, stuffed shells, pasta salads, and even vegan poke bowls.

    Jump to:
    • 🤔 What is sun-dried tomato pesto
    • 🧾 Ingredients
    • 🍅 How to Make Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta
    • 🥢 How to serve
    • 🍝 Which pasta to use
    • 📖 Variations
    • 🥡 Storing
    • 💡 Blending tip
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 🌡️ Food safety
    • 💬 Reviews and Comments

    🤔 What is sun-dried tomato pesto

    The sun-dried tomato is a type of tomato prepared by leaving whole tomatoes out in the sun until they have lost most of their water content.

    Originating in Southern Italy, sun-dried tomatoes were traditionally made in the regions of Apulia and Calabria.

    We love using them in lentil salads and as the main ingredient for stuffed portobello mushrooms.

    dried tomatoes in a basket at the farmer's market

    The sun-drying process concentrates the flavors of the tomatoes, making them more intense and sweet.

    sun-dried tomato pesto pasta

    The sun-dried tomato pesto combines the delicious concentrated flavor of tomatoes with olive oil, nuts, garlic cheese, and basil.

    🧾 Ingredients

    sun-dried tomato pesto ingredients ingredients
    • Sun-dried tomatoes
    • Fresh basil leaves
    • Nutritional yeast or vegan parmesan cheese
    • Pine nuts or hulled roasted almonds
    • Garlic cloves
    • Extra-virgin olive oil

    Optional: red pepper flakes, plus your favorite pasta.

    🍅 How to Make Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta

    To make sun-dried tomato pesto, you just need to follow one step. You don't even have to wash any produce.

    This is why we love pesto so much. You just need to get your food processor, high-speed blender, or immersion blender (affiliate link); through everything on it and blend until you reach a spreadable consistency.

    sun-dried tomato pesto ingredients in blender

    If you like more of a chunky red pesto, you can pulse instead until you reach the desired consistency.

    blended sun-dried tomato pesto

    If you plan on having pasta with it, start by boiling the water.

    sun-dried tomato pesto pasta

    Then make your pesto rosso as the pasta cooks. Your pesto sauce will be ready before your pasta does... how cool is that?

    Cook your pasta until it is al dente, and drain it, reserving some of the pasta cooking water. It will come in handy next.

    Using the same saucepan, scoop in some sun-dried tomato pesto, add the pasta on top, and mix with your kitchen tongs. Add some cooking water to dissolve the pesto, and make your pasta super creamy.

    stirring pasta with sun-dried tomato pesto pasta

    The pasta water has some starch on it, making the pasta creamier. That's the trick! That way, you need to add extra olive oil or calories!

    sun-dried tomato pesto pasta served in bowl

    🥢 How to serve

    If you like your pasta spicy, add some extra chili flakes on top, along with fresh basil and vegan parmesan cheese.

    sun-dried tomato pesto pasta

    We like adding fresh cherry tomatoes on top and chunks of un-blended sun-dried tomatoes.

    hand holding cherry tomatoes

    If you want your weeknight dinners to look extra fancy, sprinkle some extra pine nuts on top.

    You can also use your sun-dried tomato pesto spread on sandwiches, salads and as a base for other preparations.

    We also use this sun-dried tomato pesto with our vegan ricotta cheese to make the perfect homemade ravioli filling.

    We sometimes replace sun-dried tomatoes with this pesto on our rosé sauce fettuccine recipe to make the sauce remarkably delicious.

    plate of christmas fettuccine pasta featured.

    Pasta salad

    If you have this fabulous recipe as a springtime or summertime dish or even for a picnic, you can have it as a cold pasta salad. Just be sure to bring it to room temperature before eating, so the flavor can shine.

    Cold pasta tends to hold up the flavor, and you may feel you need more salt or olive oil, but in reality, it unleashes all of its flavors in just a few minutes.

    🍝 Which pasta to use

    Any kind of pasta works. We love using bucatini, the one you see in the pictures.

    Bucatini is a type of pasta that is long and thin and looks like tubes. In general, you can use any recipe that calls for spaghetti. That's because the pasta is hollow, which means it is extruded through a machine instead of rolled.

    bucatini pasta in a fork holding a bite of sun-dried tomato pesto pasta

    They are thicker and sort of bite you back.

    We also like using fusilli, as it goes very well with pesto, as the sauce gets all inside the swirls of the pasta. Tie bow pasta is also a great choice.

    Read on: how to make your own fresh vegan pasta dough and homemade noodles!

    📖 Variations

    Lemons

    Pesto sauce is usually made with lemon juice, but we skipped it for this recipe because sundried tomatoes are both sweet and sour. Feel free to stir in some lemon juice if you use the sweeter kind.

    bowl with fresh lemons

    Salt

    We don't use any salt either because sundried tomatoes are salty. Feel free to adjust with kosher salt.

    Pine nuts

    Any nuts will work for this recipe. We decided to use pine nuts to be closer to the traditional pesto rosso, but you can use almonds and walnuts interchangeably.

    pine nuts in Italian Farmer's market
    pine nuts in Italian Farmer's market

    Try our roasted red pepper tofu pesto recipe for an oil-free, healthier pesto option.

    🥡 Storing

    After blending the sun-dried tomato pesto in your food processor, you can store any leftovers using an airtight container and keep them in the fridge.

    sun-dried tomato pesto pasta stored in mason jar

    Cover it with extra virgin olive oil if you plan to leave it for an extended period. This will help to keep it for longer and keep its vibrant color. Make sure the pesto surface is covered with oil.

    Freezer

    If you want to keep your delicious pesto for longer, simply store it in the freezer using an ice cube tray, and then use the portions as needed.

    sun-dried tomato pesto pasta

    💡 Blending tip

    If you are making a small quantity and have an immersion blender, I recommend using it to facilitate the cleaning.

    Use a blender or food processor if making a larger batch.

    ⭐ If you try this recipe, let us know! 💬 Leave a comment, rate it, and don't forget to tag us @ourplantbasedworld on Instagram. Cheers!

    📋 Recipe

    sun-dried tomato pesto pasta featured

    Sun-dried Tomato Pesto Pasta Recipe | Vegan

    Gus
    This sun-dried tomato pesto pasta recipe is the perfect quick and easy meal for busy weeknights. Made with just a few simple ingredients, it's packed full of flavor and sure to become a new family favorite!
    5 from 23 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 15 minutes mins
    Course Basics & Preparations, Main Course, Sauces & Dressings
    Cuisine Italian-Inspired
    Servings 3 servings
    Calories 548 kcal

    Equipment

    May favorite food processor: Cuisine Art
    (affiliate link)
    Food Processor (affiliate link)
    my favorite immersion blender cuisine art brand.
    (affiliate link)
    Immersion blender (affiliate link)
    cuisine art large casserole with a lid.
    (affiliate link)
    Large saucepan (affiliate link)
    mason jars.
    (affiliate link)
    Mason Jar (affiliate link)

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 3 oz sun-dried tomatoes 1 cup
    • ½ oz basil fresh leaves. ½ cup, stems removed
    • ⅓ cup nutritional yeast or ⅓ cup homemade vegan parmesan
    • 1.5 oz pine nuts ¼ cup, or hulled almonds
    • 1 clove garlic or ¼ teaspoon granulated garlic powder
    • ⅓ cup olive oil extra-virgin
    • ½ teaspoon red chili flakes

    Optional:

    • 10 oz bucatini pasta 300 grams (100 grams per person)
    • ¾ cup pasta water
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Directions
     

    • Blend all the ingredients in an immersion blender or food processor until the pesto reaches the desired consistency. You might have to stop and scrape down the sides with a spatula.
    • Adjust the seasoning. If you want it to be more garlicky, add an extra garlic clove. Add more olive oil for a thinner and runnier pesto.

    If making pasta

    • You can start boiling water before making your pesto because it is made fast!
    • Boil the pasta as per package directions, with salt. Before straining the pasta on a colander, save some of the pasta water, which will be starchy, so when you add the pesto to your strained pasta, you can add some water little by little to achieve the creamiest texture.

    Video

    Notes

    Note: Yields 5 ¼ oz, good for 3 servings.
    Storing: cover with additional olive oil, and sea in an airtight container, so it last more time in the fridge.
    Use Gluten-free pasta to make your dish, gluten-free. The pesto itself is gluten-free.

    Nutrition Facts

    Calories: 548kcalCarbohydrates: 81gProtein: 17gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gSodium: 23mgPotassium: 796mgFiber: 6gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 275IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 42mgIron: 3mg
    Did you make this recipe?Tag @ourplantbasedworld on Instagram and Hashtag it #ourplantbasedworld so we can see what's cooking!!
    Nutrition Facts
    Sun-dried Tomato Pesto Pasta Recipe | Vegan
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    548
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    18
    g
    28
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    13
    %
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    4
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    10
    g
    Sodium
     
    23
    mg
    1
    %
    Potassium
     
    796
    mg
    23
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    81
    g
    27
    %
    Fiber
     
    6
    g
    25
    %
    Sugar
     
    8
    g
    9
    %
    Protein
     
    17
    g
    34
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    275
    IU
    6
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    6
    mg
    7
    %
    Calcium
     
    42
    mg
    4
    %
    Iron
     
    3
    mg
    17
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
     
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    🌡️ Food safety

    • Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
    • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food that previously touched raw meat
    • Wash hands after touching raw meat
    • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
    • Never leave cooking food unattended
    • Use oils with high smoking points to avoid harmful compounds
    • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

    See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

    The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice. See our full Nutritional Disclosure here.

    Please note that some of the links here are affiliate links, and I will earn a commission if you purchase through those links. I recommend all of the products listed because they are companies I have found helpful and trustworthy.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Andrea says

      March 25, 2022 at 12:02 am

      5 stars
      such a rich and delicious pasta! perfect for an easy dinner idea!

      Reply
    2. nancy says

      March 24, 2022 at 7:57 pm

      5 stars
      this sundried tomato pasta gives me life! really flavourful. I would make this again!

      Reply
    3. Emily says

      March 24, 2022 at 6:06 pm

      5 stars
      This was so delicious and easy to make! I love the addition of the red chili flakes!

      Reply
      • Gus says

        March 24, 2022 at 7:02 pm

        red chili flakes elevate the flavor so much! We always add some extra!

        Reply
    4. Jacqui says

      March 24, 2022 at 4:35 pm

      5 stars
      I love sun dried tomatoes! This is such a fantastic recipe. It turned out amazing!

      Reply
    5. Chantry says

      March 24, 2022 at 2:48 pm

      5 stars
      So delicious! Love this with the bow tie pasta!

      Reply
    6. Dana Sandonato says

      March 24, 2022 at 12:00 pm

      5 stars
      Such a fantastic pasta dish! Absolutely love the addition of pine nuts. They always add a flavor that takes the dish to the next level. So good!

      Reply
      • Gus says

        March 30, 2022 at 10:01 pm

        I am glad you liked it, Dana! Thanks for your review!

        Reply
    7. Danielle says

      March 24, 2022 at 11:42 am

      5 stars
      This came out so delicious! I love how flavorful sun dried tomatoes are.

      Reply
      • Gus says

        March 24, 2022 at 7:04 pm

        That's great, Danielle! You are right! They pack so much flavor!

        Reply
    8. Dijana says

      March 24, 2022 at 11:06 am

      5 stars
      Gorgeous pasta! I love the sun-dried tomatoes pesto, and I wish I could visit your Farmer's market!

      Reply
    9. Ieva says

      March 24, 2022 at 10:36 am

      5 stars
      Hi, we made this a couple of days ago and both loved it! We could only find sundried tomatoes in oil in our local supermarket (we're in the UK), but it definitely worked! Great easy recipe for weekday dinners!

      Reply
      • Gus says

        March 24, 2022 at 7:04 pm

        Hi Ieva, I am really glad to know that the sun-dried tomatoes in the oil work. Actually the first time we made this recipe we made it with those as we were new in Italy and didn't know where our closest farmers' market was. It was just 1 Km away hahah. I am glad you liked it!

        Reply
    10. Amanda Wren-Grimwood says

      March 24, 2022 at 9:11 am

      5 stars
      We always have a pasta dish each week and this one is so quick and delicious and so easy too.

      Reply
      • Gus says

        March 24, 2022 at 10:19 am

        Thanks for sharing Amanda, we are glad you found our pesto pasta easy and delicious!

        Reply
    11. Eliza says

      March 22, 2022 at 7:36 pm

      5 stars
      I always love your recipes, and this pesto with sun-dried tomatoes is another keeper! Going to try it with bow tie pasta as you suggested in your variations.

      Reply
      • Gus says

        March 23, 2022 at 6:58 am

        Bow ties are great for this pesto. The creases on that type of pasta allow the pesto to infuse more flavor on every bite!

        Reply
    12. veenaazmanov says

      March 22, 2022 at 6:21 pm

      5 stars
      Such amazing recipes are always a welcome meal. My family loves this quick and delicious Sundried Tomato Pesto Pasta. Love the Pine Nuts addition too.

      Reply
    13. Jill says

      March 22, 2022 at 6:18 pm

      5 stars
      This pesto was so full of flavor. Thank you for a terrific recipe!

      Reply
    14. Gina says

      March 22, 2022 at 5:34 pm

      5 stars
      Love this twist on traditional pesto - it's got such a hearty earthy flavor to it!

      Reply
      • Gus says

        March 22, 2022 at 6:19 pm

        And it makes a great easy weekday dinner too! 🙂

        Reply
    15. kushigalu@gmail.com says

      March 22, 2022 at 5:19 pm

      5 stars
      Drooling over this delicious pasta recipe. I will be making this soon.

      Reply
      • Gus says

        March 22, 2022 at 5:33 pm

        You will love it! It is a truly easy-to-make pasta dish!

        Reply

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