We love this fun, flavorful sun-dried tomato pesto over bowtie pasta. This dish is light yet full of unexpected bold flavor and rich texture. Pairs well with any preferred protein for a delicious, anytime meal. What’s unique and delicious about this dish is that all of the flavors come from the chopped vegetable ingredients, garlic, and fresh basil. No spices needed!
The Ingredients
For this dish, shop for fresh ingredients including garlic, green pepper, yellow pepper, basil and yellow onion. You will also need sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil. You can find these in the produce section or in the italian section where you might find jarred olives, typically. We prefer to use bowtie pasta for this dish, but please consult your people (referring to the children of the house) and find out which pasta shape is their favorite. In addition, you will need olive oil and parmesan cheese (we prefer freshly grated). This dish could be vegetarian or served with your preferred protein.
Preparing your Pesto Pasta Dish
First, measure out 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes and drain off excess oils. One way to do this is to line a bowl or plate with a couple of paper towels and let them drain out the oil while preparing the rest of the vegetables. Because the pesto ingredients are added at different points in the cooking process, you will chop them and set them aside in separate prep bowls/ containers. Finely chop, green pepper, yellow pepper and onion and set aside, separating peppers from the onions. Next, mince the garlic and chop the basil leaves and then set those aside. To complete the prep, chop the drained sun-dried tomatoes finely and set aside.
Now you can heat up a medium sauté pan with 2 TBS olive oil over medium heat. Add the green and yellow peppers and sauté for 5 minutes. While the peppers are cooking, boil water for the pasta and cook pasta according to directions. Next, add the chopped onion to the peppers and sauté all together until soft. All stoves cook differently, so closely monitor this but it should be for about 8-10 minutes. 
At this point, add the garlic and basil and cook an additional 5 minutes, stirring all together.
Finally, stir in the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and heat until warm and flavors combine, about 3 – 5 minutes.
Serve over warm pasta and add top with fresh grated parmesan cheese.
Variations and Serving Suggestions
We prefer to serve this sun-dried tomato pesto pasta with Italian sausage links. However, grilled chicken or your choice of protein would pair well also. As mentioned, feel free to vary the pasta selection from bowtie, as this pesto can be just as good on top of any preferred pasta shape. Add some warm garlic bread and a yummy simple Italian salad, and this is an easy, delicious meal.
Sun-dried Tomato Pesto over Pasta
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
- 2 TBS olive oil
- 6 oz package of basil
- 1 green pepper
- 1 yellow pepper
- 1 yellow onion
- 4–6 cloves of garlic
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes (in oil)
- 12 oz bowtie pasta
- parmesan cheese
- Serve with choice of protein
Instructions
- Measure out 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes and drain off excess oils. An easy way to drain these is to line a bowl or plate with a couple paper towels and let them drain out the oil.
- Finely chop, but keep them separate, the garlic, green pepper, yellow pepper, basil, sun-dried tomatoes, and onion.
- Put 2 TBS olive oil into a sauté pan and turn to medium. Add the green and yellow peppers and sauté for 5 minutes.
- While the peppers are cooking, boil water for the pasta and cook pasta according to directions.
- Add the chopped onion to the peppers and sauté all together until soft, about 8-10 minutes.
- Add the garlic and basil and cook an additional 5 minutes, stirring all together.
- Stir in the sun-dried tomatoes and cook until warm and flavors combine, ~ 3 minutes.
- Serve over pasta and top with parmesan cheese.
- Can add Italian sausage, grilled chicken, or choice of protein.
Notes
- Bowtie pasta can be substituted by any preferred pasta.
- Add your choice of protein, such as grilled Italian sausage or grilled chicken.
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 20
