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Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta
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3.03 from 448 votes

Sun-Dried Tomato and Pesto Pasta

Author: Root Family Review

Ingredients

  • 1 can 14.5 oz Hunt's Petite Diced Tomatoes
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced
  • 1 jar 8.5 oz Trader Joe's Julienne Sliced Sun-Dried Tomatoes in Olive Oil (oil drained)
  • 1 can *15 oz Trader Joe's Organic Tomato Sauce
  • 3.5 ounces *Trader Giotto Genova Pesto half of a 7 oz container; oil drained if desired
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1 **packet Trader Joe's Savory Chicken Broth Concentrate
  • 2 cloves grated garlic
  • 1/4 to 1/2 tsp table salt to taste
  • 3/4 cup low fat half and half
  • Fresh basil and parmesan cheese for serving
  • Pasta of your choice cooked per package directions. I use Costco 5 Cheese Tortelloni.

Instructions

  • Puree the can of petite diced tomatoes in a blender.
  • Place a strainer into a bowl and strain the pureed tomatoes to remove the seeds.
  • Return the pureed tomatoes to the blender.
  • Using the same strainer and bowl, drain the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes and add them to the blender.
  • Sauté the diced onion in olive oil until translucent and add them to the blender.
  • Add the tomato sauce, pesto, chicken broth, chicken concentrate, garlic and 1/4 tsp salt to the blender.
  • Blend thoroughly until the sauce is a smooth puree. The sauce will be thick.
  • Pour the sauce into the pan used to saute the onions.
  • Add the half and half to the blender and blend to remove any remaining sauce from the blender jar.
  • Pour the half and half into the sauce and stir to combine.
  • Warm the sauce on medium until heated through
  • Check salt level and add more if desired.
  • In a separate pan, cook the pasta per package instructions and reserve up to 1 cup cooking liquid.
  • Drain pasta.
  • Toss tomato pesto sauce with the pasta. Add some of the pasta water to thin sauce if desired.
  • 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.