Sun-Dried Tomato and Pesto Pasta
 
 
Author:
Ingredients
  • One can (14.5 oz) Hunt's Petite Diced Tomatoes
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • One medium onion, diced
  • *One jar (8.5 oz) Trader Joe's Julienne Sliced Sun-Dried Tomatoes in Olive Oil (oil drained)
  • *One can (15 oz) Trader Joe's Organic Tomato Sauce
  • *3.5 oz Trader Giotto Genova Pesto (half of a 7 oz container; oil drained if desired)
  • ½ cup Swanson's Chicken Broth
  • 1 packet Trader Joe's Savory Broth Concentrate, chicken flavor**
  • 2 cloves Gourmet Garden garlic puree
  • ¼ to ½ tsp salt (salt to taste)
  • ¾ cup low fat half and half
  • Fresh basil and parmesan cheese for serving
  • Pasta of your choice, cooked per package directions. We use Costco 5 Cheese Tortelloni
Instructions
  1. Puree the can of petite diced tomatoes in a blender.
  2. Place a strainer into a bowl and strain the pureed tomatoes to remove the seeds.
  3. Return the pureed tomatoes to the blender.
  4. Using the same strainer and bowl, drain the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes and add them to the blender.
  5. Saute the diced onion in olive oil until translucent and add them to the blender.
  6. Add the tomato sauce, pesto, chicken broth, chicken concentrate, garlic and ¼ tsp salt to the blender.
  7. Blend thoroughly until the sauce is a smooth puree. The sauce will be thick.
  8. Pour the sauce into the pan used to saute the onions.
  9. Add the half and half to the blender and blend to remove any remaining sauce from the blender jar.
  10. Pour the half and half into the sauce and stir to combine.
  11. Warm the sauce on medium until heated through
  12. Check salt level and add more if desired.
  13. In a separate pan, cook the pasta per package instructions and reserve up to 1 cup cooking liquid.
  14. Drain pasta.
  15. Toss tomato pesto sauce with the pasta. Add some of the pasta water to thin sauce if desired.
  16. Top with fresh basil and parmesan cheese.
Notes
*If you don't have a Trader Joe's in your area, have no fear! You can replace these ingredients with your favorites from your local grocery store. I prefer Hunt's tomato sauces because they are less sweet.
**Use any brand of chicken bouillon. One packet of TJ's chicken concentrate would make one cup of chicken broth.
Recipe by The Root Family Review at https://www.rootfamilyreview.com/sun-dried-tomato-and-pesto-pasta/