Fusilli with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto: A Quick and Easy Recipe for a Mediterranean Dish

Fusilli with sun-dried tomato pesto is a delicious main course, perfect for those who want a quick preparation without sacrificing flavor. This dish captures the best of Mediterranean flavors, combining the sweetness of sun-dried tomatoes with the crunchiness of almonds and the unmistakable fragrance of fresh basil. The sun-dried tomato pesto is a rich and savory sauce, easy to prepare and ideal for any season, especially when you crave something reminiscent of the scents and colors of southern Italy. With this recipe, you can bring to the table a dish that will satisfy even the most demanding palates.

Ingredients for a Perfect Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto

To make a sun-dried tomato pesto that perfectly pairs with fusilli, it’s important to choose high-quality ingredients. The choice of pasta is essential: for this recipe, we suggest using èViva fusilli, a pasta whose spiral shape captures the sauce well, making each bite rich in flavor. Here are the ingredients needed for two servings:

• 250 g of Fusilli | Bronze-drawn pasta 500 g èViva
• 130 g of Sun-dried tomatoes in extra virgin olive oil from Agricola Piano
• 5-6 fresh basil leaves
• 3-4 teaspoons of almond crumbs
• 3-4 teaspoons of grated Parmigiano Reggiano
• Extra virgin olive oil from single varietal Peranzana, as needed

How to Choose Ingredients to Enhance the Flavor of the Dish

When preparing a simple recipe like this, the quality of the ingredients makes a big difference. The sun-dried tomatoes in extra virgin olive oil from Agricola Piano are key to achieving an authentic pesto flavor. Thanks to their preservation in oil, they maintain all their sweetness and intense flavor, perfectly balanced by the natural acidity of the tomatoes.

The extra virgin olive oil also plays a central role: choose OLIO PIANO, an oil that boasts a high polyphenol content and a harmonious flavor, perfect for binding all the ingredients together.

Steps to Prepare Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto

Making sun-dried tomato pesto is extremely simple and quick. In just a few minutes, you'll have a thick, flavorful sauce, perfect for coating your fusilli. Here's how to proceed:

1. Start by placing the sun-dried tomatoes, almond crumbs, grated Parmigiano Reggiano, fresh basil leaves, and a generous amount of extra virgin olive oil into a blender.
2. Blend everything until you get a somewhat coarse texture that maintains some rusticity. If the mixture is too dense, you can add another drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
3. The pesto should have a creamy consistency, but with a texture that makes every bite interesting.

This pesto is versatile and can also be used for other dishes, such as bruschetta, crostini, or grilled vegetables. Once prepared, it can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days, covered with a layer of oil to keep it fresh.

How to Cook Pasta to Perfection: Step-by-Step Guide

While preparing the pesto, bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Fusilli, with their distinctive shape, are ideal for this type of sauce as they optimally capture the pesto.

1. Fill the pot with water: Use 1 liter of water for every 100 grams of pasta. For example, if you're cooking 500 grams of pasta, use 5 liters of water.
2. Bring the water to a boil: Turn the heat to high and wait for the water to reach a rolling boil.
3. Add the salt: Once the water is boiling, add the salt. The recommended amount is about 10-12 grams of salt (approximately one tablespoon) per liter of water. For 5 liters of water, add 50-60 grams of salt.
4. Add the pasta: Pour the pasta into the boiling salted water, stirring immediately to prevent it from sticking.
5. Cooking time: The exact cooking time is indicated on the pasta package. Cook the pasta until "al dente," stirring occasionally. "Al dente" means the pasta should be cooked but still slightly firm to the bite.
6. Drain the pasta: Once the pasta has reached the right level of doneness, drain it using a colander. If you want to save some cooking water for the sauce, set aside a cup before draining.
7. Season and serve: Toss the pasta with your preferred sauce or oil and mix well to combine the flavors. Serve immediately and enjoy it hot!

How to Toss Fusilli with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto

1. In a large pan, combine the drained fusilli with the sun-dried tomato pesto. Add a ladle of cooking water to blend everything together and create a creamy sauce.
2. Toss the pasta for a couple of minutes over medium heat, stirring gently to ensure that the pesto is evenly distributed. This step is essential to ensure that the pasta absorbs the sauce optimally.

Serving and Presentation

Once the fusilli are ready, serve them hot. You can add an extra sprinkle of grated Parmigiano Reggiano to enhance the flavor or garnish the dish with a few fresh basil leaves.

To make the dish even more special, you can complete it with a handful of toasted pine nuts, which add a pleasant crunch and a more intense flavor. If you love spicy flavors, a pinch of chopped chili pepper can give the dish a kick without overpowering the taste of the sun-dried tomatoes.

Ideas for Recipe Variations

The beauty of this recipe lies in its versatility. You can personalize the sun-dried tomato pesto in several ways, depending on your tastes:

• Almonds or Pine Nuts? If you prefer a more delicate flavor, you can replace the almonds with pine nuts, which add a sweet and creamy note to the pesto.
• Add a Spicy Kick: If you enjoy bolder flavors, add some fresh or dried chili pepper to the pesto during preparation.
• Use the Pesto on Bruschetta: This pesto is also great as a topping for bruschetta or crostini, perfect for a Mediterranean appetizer.

Why Choosing Quality Ingredients Makes a Difference

Fusilli with sun-dried tomato pesto brings to the table the authentic and intense flavors of the Mediterranean, but the most important thing for the success of an excellent pasta dish is undoubtedly the choice of ingredients. Choosing a high-quality pasta like ours not only allows you to make a difference, giving your dish an aroma and flavor that an industrial product cannot offer, but also gives you the opportunity to enjoy real food.

Our pasta is made with Apulian wheat (100% Italian), bronze-drawn, and subjected to a slow drying process. It is free from unwanted elements such as glyphosate and pesticides, ensuring a healthy and natural product. If you want to make sure that every dish is rich in flavor and authenticity, choose our pasta.

Buy now and bring true Italian quality to your table.