Pesto Primavera Pasta with some Pinenut butter

Hello Pasta Lovers,

It has been since last March that I have enjoyed a plate of pasta – yes almost a year.  Well recently, the old pasta pull has been calling.  One a recent trip to Costco, I picked up a bag of  Ancient Grain gluten-free spaghetti that seemed like it might be an alternative to flour-based pasta.

When my son and girlfriend decided to join us for dinner at the last minute, I decided pasta was on the menu as it is an ideal way to make a meal stretch.

This recipe is super easy and takes less than 20 minutes so add this tasty meal to your list of recipes to make. Scroll down for photos of how to make it.

Pesto Pasta Primavera

Ingredients

• Ancient Grain Pasta (gluten-free)
• 1/2 white onion
• 3 stalks organic celery
• 1 organic red pepper
• 2 gloves of garlic
• 1 can (796ml/28 fl oz) organic whole tomatoes
• 1 tsp oregano – dried
• 1 tsp parsley- dried
• 1 tsp basil – dried
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp Himalayan salt

Directions

1. Get the filtered water boiling.
2. Add the pasta as per the directions.
3. Open your can of tomatoes.
4. Heat up your pan.
5. Add the onion and cook until almost clear.
6. Add the celery and red pepper.  Cook for 3 minutes and then using a garlic press, add the two cloves of garlic directly into the mixture.
7.  Stir quickly and then add the can of tomatoes.
8. Break the whole tomatoes with the back of your spoon.
9. Let come to a slow boil and then turn down to simmer.
10. Add oregano, parsley, basil and salt and pepper.
11. Stir to combine.
12. The tomatoes should have broken apart into smaller segments – if not, help them along with your spoon.
13. Add two pesto cubes or 1/4 cup of pesto that contains no dairy.
14. Stir.
15. Drain the pasta.
16. Place pasta in the bottom of each serving bowl and add a generous amount of sauce.
17. If you wish, grind up pine nuts for a creamy butter to add to the centre.  It brings an added flavour that is outstanding.
18. Garnish with some parsley.
19. Enjoy.

May you find ways to stretch your meals to include more family and friends at the table.

To the joy of gluten-free pasta,

Jo-Ann Blondin, your 9CupChallenge partner