Pesto and Fresh Tomato Fusilli

Name: Pesto and Fresh Tomato Fusilli
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 12 oz (375) fusilli or other short pasta; 1 cup (250 mL) 10 % cream or 18 % cream or 35 % cream; 1/3 cup (80 mL) basil pesto; 2 cups (500 mL) chopped fresh tomatoes or halved grape tomatoes; Salt and pepper to taste; 1/4 cup (60 mL) black olives; 2 tbsp (30 mL) pine nuts toasted; 1/4 cup (60 mL) freshly grated Canadian Parmesan cheese

A fast dinner doesn’t get any better – or easier – than this! A few great-tasting ingredients combine into one terrific pasta dish.

Prep: 5 min
Cooking: 11 min

Yields 4 servings

Ingredients

12 oz (375) fusilli or other short pasta
1 cup (250 mL) 10 % cream or 18 % cream or 35 % cream
1/3 cup (80 mL) basil pesto
2 cups (500 mL) chopped fresh tomatoes or halved grape tomatoes
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup (60 mL) black olives
2 tbsp (30 mL) pine nuts toasted
1/4 cup (60 mL) freshly grated Canadian Parmesan cheese

READY FOR REWARDS?

Preparation

In large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta for about 9 min or until tender but firm, or according to package directions. Drain, reserving 1 cup (250 ml) of the pasta cooking water.

Return pot to medium heat and add cream and pesto. Heat, stirring, for 2 min or until steaming. Return pasta to pot; add tomatoes and toss to combine, adding enough of the pasta water to moisten to desired consistency. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve topped with olives, pine nuts and Canadian Parmesan cheese.

Tips

If local field tomatoes aren’t in season, often the greenhouse-grown grape tomatoes or tomatoes-on-the-vine have great flavor – even in those cold fall and winter months.

For the Adventurous: Add one 7 oz (210 ml) jar drained marinated artichoke hearts, chopped or 2 cups (500 ml) chopped grilled or roasted asparagus with the tomatoes