What is it about angel hair that is just so much tastier than regular spaghetti to me? If I have angel hair for a while and then go back to regular, comparatively I’m just like who are these blockheads trying to be in my italian meal? Perhaps needless to say I used angel hair for this out of this world tomato pesto dish that some friends made for us over for dinner one night. This tomato pesto is now how I like to make pesto when I don’t have the stacks of cash to lay down for pricey basil.
And there are ALMONDS in the tomato pesto which adds a change up of flavor. Eat it! Eat it all!
TOMATO PESTO ANGEL HAIR
Serves 4
1/4 cup pasta water
1 pint cherry tomatoes
1 cup almonds
3/4 cup olive oil
3 cloves garlic
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 pound angel hair spaghetti, cooked al dente
1 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled (optional)
Parmesan
When preparing pasta according to instructions, reserve 1/4 cup pasta water. Pulse tomatoes and almonds in a food processor or blender until coarsely chopped. Remove 1/3 of mixture and set aside. Add olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper and continue to pulse until a smooth pesto forms. Toss al dente pasta with tomato pesto, reserved tomato and almond, and bacon (optional). Add pasta water as needed to loosen sauce. Top with parmesan (generously!).
- ¼ cup pasta water
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup almonds
- ¾ cup olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 pound angel hair spaghetti, cooked al dente
- 1 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled (optional)
- Parmesan
- When preparing pasta according to instructions, reserve ¼ cup pasta water.
- Pulse tomatoes and almonds in a food processor or blender until coarsely chopped. Remove ⅓ of mixture and set aside.
- Add olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper and continue to pulse until a smooth pesto forms.
- Toss al dente pasta with tomato pesto, reserved tomato and almond, and bacon (optional).
- Add pasta water as needed to loosen sauce.
- Top with parmesan (generously!).
Adapted from Lidia’s Italy.