McAlester News-Capital, McAlester, OK

Breaking News

National News

Red Pesto Pasta

1/4 pound fresh spaghetti or dried spaghetti
1/2 pound fresh tomatoes, about 1 cup tomato flesh
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup fresh basil leaves
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon pine nuts
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons grated Pecorino cheese
Directions:
Place a large sauce pan filled with water on to boil for the spaghetti. When water is boiling, add the pasta. Cook 2 to 3 minutes for fresh pasta and according to package instructions for dried pasta.
While water is coming to the boil, wash tomatoes, cut in half and squeeze out seeds and juice into a salad bowl. Set bowl aside. Add tomato flesh to the bowl of a food processor. Add garlic, oil, tomato paste and basil. Process until a sauce consistency is reached. Remove to a large bowl and add the pine nuts, cayenne pepper and salt and pepper to taste. Mix well.
Drain spaghetti and add to the bowl. Toss well. Sprinkle Pecorino cheese on top. Makes 2 servings.
Per serving: 315 calories (23 percent from fat), 8.1 g fat (1.9 g saturated, 3.9 g monounsaturated), 5 mg cholesterol, 11.8 g protein, 48.8 g carbohydrates, 3.5 g fiber, 79 mg sodium.

Salad with Walnuts and Chickpeas
2 tablespoons reduced-fat oil and vinegar dressing
4 cups washed, ready-to-eat lettuce
1 1/2 cups chickpeas
1/4 cup broken walnuts
Add the dressing to the tomato juice and seeds from Red Pesto Pasta recipe. Mix well. Add the lettuce, chickpeas and walnuts. Toss well. Makes 2 servings.
Per serving: 242 calories (49 percent from fat), 13.1 g fat (1.2 g saturated, 2.1 g monounsaturated), 1 mg cholesterol, 9.4 g protein, 24.8 g carbohydrates, 4.5 g fiber, 220 mg sodium.

Related Photos

  • Fresh, flavor-packed tomatoes and basil blend to make this red pesto sauce, a tasty variation on a traditional pesto. It retains its vibrant flavors, because it's not cooked — relying on the heat of the cooked spaghetti. Pictured: Red Pesto Pasta, Salad with Walnuts and Chickpeas. Miami Herald photo by C.W. Griffin

    4 3 QUICKFIX.jpg

Related Links

April 3, 2012

Tomatoes enliven pesto pasta

By Linda Gassenheimer MCT

MCT — Fresh, flavor-packed tomatoes and basil blend to make this red pesto sauce, a tasty variation on a traditional pesto. It retains its vibrant flavors, because it’s not cooked — relying on the heat of the cooked spaghetti. My Italian friend, Ugo, mentioned that he made this sauce for his family and they raved about it. I’ve adapted his recipe for this quick dinner.

The secret to the sauce is to squeeze the juice and seeds out of the tomatoes. Just cut them in half and squeeze. Be sure to catch the juice and seeds in a bowl to add to bottled dressing for a fresh boost. You can also stir them into mayonnaise for a light mayonnaise sauce.

This meal contains 558 calories per serving with 34 percent of calories from fat.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
National News
Seasonal Content
AP Video
Hunt for Ex-Teamster Boss Hoffa's Remains Ends Aug. Trial Set for Ohio Man in Triple Kidnapping Car Crash in NYC's East Village Injures 8 Obama Renews Call for Nuclear Reductions Raw: Car Jumps Curb in NYC, Injures 8 Obama: 'Lives Have Been Saved' by NSA Programs Obama: Friction in Afghan Talks No Surprise Unusual Heat Wave Bakes Alaska Raw: Massive Protests Fill Brazilian Streets Raw: German President Welcomes President Obama Fans Cheer Dramatic Heat Comeback Raw: Arizona Wildfire Scorches 8 Square Miles Raw: 1 Dead in Shooting at Mo. Apartment Complex Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park 3 Charged in Ohio With Enslaving Mom, Daughter Kid Couture: Spending Big Bucks on Babies
NDN Video
Rihanna Hits Fan With Microphone During UK Concert Obama Renews Call for Nuclear Reductions Miami Heat Wins in Overtime Raw: Arizona Wildfire Scorches 8 Square Miles Fists, chairs fly in restaurant brawl Journalist Michael Hastings Dies in Fiery Hollywood Crash Hairy Leg Stockings Aim to Deflect Male Attention Inside Kim Kardashian's Premature Labor Three Charged for Enslaving Mother and Daughter Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park Spurs' Popovich has no problem with Spurs' intensity RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled Paige Butcher Scorches on Hawaii Beach Video: worst way to load cargo onto a plane Never-before-seen footage of '08 Times Square bomber Obama: NSA Secret Data Gathering 'Transparent' WATCH IT: Lil Wayne tramples American flag Mariah Carey Looks Beautiful in a Tiny Cut-Out Swimsuit Out of Control Boat Throws Passengers Overboard See Lindsay Lohan in Rehab
Parade
Magazine
Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.