• Home
  • Recipes
    • Christmas Recipes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Vegetarian Dinners
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Lunch Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Baking Recipes
    • Meal Plans
    • How To….
    • Preserves and Sauces
  • Recipe Collections
    • 7 Crumble Recipes
    • 7 Apple Dessert Recipes
    • 7 Easy Beef Mince Recipes
    • 7 Lentil Recipes
    • 7 Friday Night Supper Ideas
    • 7 Flexible Recipes For Meat Eaters And Vegetarians
    • 7 Recipes To Cook With Children
    • 7 TV Dinners
    • 7 Make Ahead Meals For A Self-Catering Holiday
  • Life, Food And Everything
    • Kitchen Equipment
  • My Story
  • Contact

Pasta With Red Pepper Pesto

June 30, 2011 Penny Leave a Comment

  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Pin It
  • 0

Pesto

Traditional pesto is made from ingredients ground in a pestle and mortar – it’s where the name ‘pesto’ comes from. Many people refer to pesto to mean ‘pesto alla genovese’ which is basil leaves, olive oil, garlic and pine nuts crushed together. However pestos can be made from many things and red pepper makes a good base.

Home made pesto really is easy to make and is fresher and tastier than the pesto in a jar. Lower cost too!

There are a number of varieties of pesto sold in jars in the supermarket and a look along the shelves might give you some new ideas to try.

But you really can’t beat home made. It is easy to do and you control and use the ingredients you like. It is preferable to have a food processor to completely blend the ingredients.

Red Pepper Pesto

This red pepper pesto recipe is a good starting point. Use it as a framework but you can change the type of nuts and herbs to suit your taste and what you have in the cupboards.

Try adding a seasonal vegetable too such as broccoli, courgette. Cut up small and steam over the pasta. Olives always make a good addition to any pesto sauce.

Red Pepper Pesto


Serves 4

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large onion peeled and chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves peeled and chopped
  • 1 large or 2 small red peppers, deseeded and chopped
  • 20g almonds whole or chopped
  • 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon chilli powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil or handful fresh basil leaves
  • 400g / 14oz pasta (penne, fusilli, shells, spirali)
  • 35g / 1oz parmesan cheese (or similar)
  • Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPrint Recipe

Cooking Directions

  1. Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large frying pan

  2. Add the onions and cook for 5 minutes until soft

  3. Add the garlic and red pepper and cook for about 15 minutes

  4. In a food processor, chop the almonds

  5. Add the vinegar, remaining olive oil, chilli, basil and paprika and blend

  6. While the pepper and onion are cooking, prepare the pasta

  7. Put the pasta in a large saucepan, cover with boiling water

  8. Simmer for 12-15 minutes or according to pack instructions

  9. If adding broccoli or courgette, steam this over the pasta

  10. When the pepper and onion are soft, place in the food processor

  11. Blend thoroughly

  12. Drain the pasta and stir the pesto sauce into the pasta over a low heat

  13. Stir in the broccoli or courgette and any olives

  14. Stir in parmesan cheese

Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPrint Recipe

Serve with a mixed green salad

If you like this recipe, you may want to subscribe to Penny’s Recipe’s newsletter and get the free Meal Plan – 7 family meals for under £30

Vegetarian Dinner Recipes Easy Pasta Recipes

Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPrint Recipe

Leave A Review Or Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Recipe & Ingredient Search

Hello!

Penny's Portrait

Hi I'm Penny. I created Penny's Recipes to share my favourite simple, fresh and economical recipes for you to cook.

I know what it is to lead a busy life and to want great meals without spending too much time in the kitchen.

I hope you enjoy them!




Disclaimer

I Penny Ritson - owner of Penny's Recipes - recommend products on this website for which I may receive a commission if you purchase the item. The price to you is the same. This helps to fund this website.

Most Popular Recipes

Gooseberry Stew
Rock Cake Recipe
Oatcakes
Broccoli And Blue Cheese Quiche
Gooseberry Ice Cream
Cut And Come Again Fruit Cake
Roasted Pumpkin  Soup
Cheese And Tomato Quiche
Gooseberry Fool
Stewed Plum Recipe

Follow Me

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter




Copyright © 2025 · Daily Dish Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

For all advertising enquires: [email protected] –  Please Quote: https://pennysrecipes.com/