Pesto Ties Recipes

CREAMY PESTO CHICKEN AND BOW TIES

Steps:

• Heat the butter in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until well browned, stirring often.
• Stir the soup, pesto sauce and milk in the skillet and heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cook for 5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Stir in the pasta and cook until the mixture is hot and bubbling.

PASTA, PESTO, AND PEAS

Steps:

• Cook the fusilli and bow ties separately in a large pot of boiling salted water for 10 to 12 minutes until each pasta is al dente. Drain and toss into a bowl with the olive oil. Cool to room temperature.
• In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade, puree the pesto, spinach, and lemon juice. Add the mayonnaise and puree. Add the pesto mixture to the cooled pasta and then add the Parmesan, peas, pignoli, salt, and pepper. Mix well, season to taste, and serve at room temperature.
• Place the walnuts, pignoli, and garlic in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Process for 15 seconds. Add the basil leaves, salt, and pepper. With the processor running, slowly pour the olive oil into the bowl through the feed tube and process until the pesto is thoroughly pureed. Add the Parmesan and puree for a minute. Use right away or store the pesto in the refrigerator or freezer with a thin film of olive oil on top.
• Notes: Air is the enemy of pesto. For freezing, pack it in containers with a film of oil or plastic wrap directly on top with the air pressed out.
• To clean basil, remove the leaves, swirl them in a bowl of water, and then spin them very dry in a salad spinner. Store them in a closed plastic bag with a slightly damp paper towel. As long as the leaves are dry they will stay green for several days.

BOW TIES WITH PESTO, FETA AND CHERRY TOMATOES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Stir in the bow ties and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 10 minutes. Drain the pasta and run it under cold water just until it stops steaming. Bounce the pasta around to get rid of as much water as you can.
• Dump the pasta into a large serving bowl. Stir in the pesto until the pasta is coated. Toss in the cherry tomatoes and the crumbled feta. Taste the salad and season it as you like with salt and pepper. You can make the salad up to about 1 hour before you serve it. Check out the salt and pepper just before you serve the salad. If it's looking a little dry, add some olive oil and stir it around.
• Pesto:
• 5 big handfuls basil leaves (about 2 hefty bunches)
• 1/2 cup pine nuts or 3/4 cup walnuts
• 1/2 cup fresh grated Parmesan or Pecorino cheese
• Juice of 1 small lemon
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled
• Kosher salt
• About 20 grinds freshly ground black pepper
• 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• Place all ingredients with 1/2 cup of the oil in a blender and blend. Gradually drizzle in the remaining 1/4 cup of oil until pesto is thick and smooth.
• Yield: about 1 1/2 cups

PESTO

Steps:

• Combine basil, garlic, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, and nuts in the bowl of a food processor or blender. Blend to a smooth paste. Add parsley if desired.

BASIL PESTO BOW TIE PASTA

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions.
• Don't forget to salt the water.
• Drain well.
• While pasta is cooking, place olive oil and garlic in a small fry pan.
• Bring to moderate heat, stirring garlic frequently to prevent browning.
• Add pinenuts and saute stirring frequently until nuts are firm but tender.
• Toss cooked pasta with pinenut/garlic mixture.
• Gently stir in basil pesto until pasta is lightly coated.
• Add tomatoes, grated parmesan and feta cheese.
• Toss lightly and serve warm or at room temperature.
• There are no measurements for these ingredients because it is all a matter of individual taste.

PESTO TIES

Steps:

• Prepare your pasta by combining 4 quarts of boiling salted water and Farfalle pasta. Boil for 10-12 minutes until al dente.
• While the pasta is boiling combine pesto ingredients in food processer.
• Process pesto on highest speed until smooth.
• Drain pasta completely.
• Combine pesto sauce and pasta together in a bowl and garnish with basil leaves.
• Serve on warm plates.

BOWTIES WITH BROCCOLI PESTO

Steps:

• Cook broccoli as directed on bag until crisp-tender; drain. Set aside 1 1/2 cups of the broccoli.
• Place remaining 1 1/2 cups broccoli and all remaining pesto ingredients in food processor. Cover; process until smooth, stopping occasionally to scrape down sides with rubber spatula.
• In 4-quart saucepan, cook pasta as directed on package, adding reserved 1 1/2 cups broccoli and bell pepper during last 1 minute of cooking time. Drain; place in serving bowl. Add tomato and pesto; toss to coat. Sprinkle with additional cheese.

20 MINUTE CREAMY PESTO CHICKEN AND BOW TIES

Steps:

• Boil water for pasta; cook and drain.
• Meanwhile, in a skillet, melt butter or margarine and brown cubed chicken.
• Add soup, pesto sauce and milk to skillet; bring to a boil and cook on low for about 5 minutes.
• Stir in pasta and heat through.

CREAMY PESTO CHICKEN AND BOW TIES

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain.
• Meanwhile, heat butter in skillet. Add chicken and cook until browned, stirring often.
• Add soup, pesto sauce and milk. Bring to a boil. Cook over low heat 5 minutes or until done. Stir in drained pasta and heat through.

BASIC PESTO

Steps:

• Combine basil leaves, pine nuts or walnuts and garlic in a food processor and process until very finely minced.
• With the machine running slowly dribble in the oil and process until the mixture is smooth.
• Add the cheese and process very briefly, just long enough to combine. Store in refrigerator or freezer.