Best 3 Rigatoni With Basil Pesto Recipes

RIGATONI WITH BASIL PESTO

Steps:

• Fill a 4-quart Dutch oven about half full of water. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt if desired. Cover with lid; heat over high heat until the water is boiling rapidly. Add the pasta. Heat to boiling again. Boil uncovered 14 to 16 minutes, stirring frequently, until tender but not mushy. While the water is heating and the pasta is cooking, continue with the recipe to make the pesto.
• To measure basil, firmly pack basil leaves into a measuring cup. Use a measuring cup for measuring dry ingredients. Rinse the basil leaves with cool water, and pat dry thoroughly with a paper towel or clean, dry kitchen towel. Peel the garlic cloves.
• In a food processor or blender, place the basil leaves, garlic, cheese, oil and pine nuts. Cover and process, stopping occasionally to scrape sides with rubber spatula, until smooth.
• Place a strainer or colander in the sink. Pour the pasta in the strainer to drain, and place in a large serving bowl or back in the Dutch oven. Immediately pour the pesto over the hot pasta, and toss until pasta is well coated. Serve with additional grated Parmesan cheese if desired.

RIGATONI WITH PESTO CREAMY SAUCE

Steps:

• For the pesto sauce-------------.
• Microwave oil on high for 2 minutes uncovered.
• Add garlic.
• Microwave on medium for 2 minutes uncovered.
• Add tomatoes, chilli flakes, oregano, basil and black pepper.
• Mix.
• Microwave on high for 4 minutes covered.
• Allow standing time of 2 minutes.
• Cool the mixture.
• Blend walnuts to a powder in a mixer.
• Add the cooked tomato mxture.
• Microwave the above mixture with cream, milk and salt for 4 minutes uncovered.
• For pasta cooking-------------.
• Microwave in a deep glass dish, water with 1 tbsp oil on high for 5 minutes uncovered.
• Place wooden spoon in the glass dish while doing so.
• Add Rigatoni.
• Mix and microwave on high for 11 minutes uncovered.
• Stir once in between.
• Add salt.
• Microwave for 2 more minutes.
• Drain off excess water.
• Shower pasta with cold water.
• Drain again.
• Keep aside.
• To serve-------------.
• Microwave pesto creamy sauce alongwith the cooked Rigatoni on medium-high for 4 minutes uncovered.
• Serve hot garnished with grated cheese, chopped tomato, chopped cilantro accompanied by soup.

RIGATONI WITH EGGPLANT AND DRIED TOMATO PESTO

Steps:

• Cut onion into 8 wedges. Place in a 13x9x2-inch baking pan; brush with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Roast in a 425 degree F oven for 10 minutes.
• Cut stem end off eggplant; discard. Cut eggplant in half lengthwise. Brush with remaining olive oil. Stir onion; place eggplant in pan, cut sides down. Continue roasting for 15 minutes more or until onion is golden brown and eggplant is just tender.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions; drain well. Toss the cooked pasta with Dried Tomato Pesto and pepper.
• Transfer pasta to a serving bowl; keep warm.
• Transfer eggplant to a cutting board; using a serrated knife, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices. (Use a fork to steady eggplant as you slice.)
• Toss eggplant and onion with pasta; season to taste with salt. Top with cheese and Italian parsley, if desired. Makes 6 to 8 side-dish servings or 4 main-dish servings.
• Dried Tomato Pesto: Drain 3/4 cup oil-packed dried tomatoes (about 3/4 of a 7-ounce jar), reserving oil. Add olive oil to equal 1/2 cup; set aside. In a food processor bowl or blender container, combine the drained tomatoes; 8 cloves garlic, chopped; 1/4 cup pine nuts or slivered almonds; 1/4 cup snipped fresh basil or 1 tablespoon dried basil, crushed; and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cover and process or blend until finely chopped. With machine running, gradually add the 1/2 cup oil, processing or blending until almost smooth and stopping to scrape down sides as needed. Divide pesto into thirds. Use a third for Rigatoni with Eggplant and refrigerate the remaining 2 portions up to 3 days or freeze up to 1 month. Makes approximately three 1/3-cup portions.