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Fresh Garlic Scape Pesto Pasta with Parmesan

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A quick and easy pasta dish featuring a fresh, vibrant pesto made from garlic scapes, Parmesan, and toasted pine nuts. Perfect for a light, seasonal dinner that’s flavorful and comforting.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup chopped garlic scapes (about 10–12 scapes)
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (Parmigiano-Reggiano preferred)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 12 ounces spaghetti, linguine, or preferred long pasta

Instructions

  1. Rinse garlic scapes well and chop into 1-inch pieces.
  2. Toast pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat until golden and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes. Stir frequently to prevent burning. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
  3. In a food processor, combine chopped garlic scapes, toasted pine nuts, grated Parmesan, and lemon juice. Pulse a few times to start blending.
  4. With the processor running, slowly drizzle in olive oil until the mixture reaches a smooth, creamy consistency. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
  5. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add pasta and cook according to package instructions (usually 8-10 minutes) until al dente.
  6. Before draining, reserve 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta cooking water.
  7. Drain pasta and return to the pot off heat. Add pesto and reserved pasta water a little at a time, tossing gently to coat evenly.
  8. Serve immediately, garnished with extra grated Parmesan and an optional drizzle of olive oil.

Notes

Do not over-process the pesto; keep some texture. Toast pine nuts carefully to avoid bitterness. Use reserved pasta water to loosen pesto sauce for a silky finish. Make pesto just before serving for best flavor and color. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta. Vegan option available by substituting Parmesan with nutritional yeast and using vegan pasta.

Nutrition

Keywords: garlic scape pesto, pesto pasta, Parmesan pasta, spring pasta recipe, easy dinner, quick pasta, seasonal recipe

Find it online: https://elvafood.com/fresh-garlic-scape-pesto-pasta-with-parmesan-easy-recipe-for-perfect-dinner/