Best Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Recipes

PENNE WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATO PESTO

Steps:

• Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
• Meanwhile, blend the sun-dried tomatoes and their oil, garlic, salt and pepper, to taste, and basil in a food processor and blend until the tomatoes are finely chopped. Transfer the tomato mixture to a large bowl. Stir in the Parmesan.
• Add the pasta to the pesto and toss to coat, adding enough reserved cooking liquid to moisten. Season the pasta, to taste, with salt and pepper and serve.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO PESTO

Steps:

• Place sun-dried tomatoes in a bowl and cover with warm water for 5 minutes, or until tender.
• In a food processor or blender combine sun-dried tomatoes, basil, parsley, garlic, pine nuts and onion; process until well blended. Add vinegar, tomato paste, crushed tomatoes and red wine, and process. Stir in olive oil and Parmesan cheese. Season with salt to taste.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO AND PESTO TORTA

Steps:

• Finely chop garlic in processor. Add basil, 1/4 cup pine nuts, oil and lemon juice. Process until well blended. Add 1/3 cup cream cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Using on/off turns, process just until blended. Transfer pesto to medium bowl.
• Coarsely chop tomatoes in processor. Add tomato paste and process until mixture is almost smooth. Add 1/3 cup cream cheese and blend well.
• Using electric mixer, beat 2 cups cream cheese and butter in large bowl until fluffy. Season with salt and pepper.
• Spray 6-cup soufflé dish with nonstick spray. Line with plastic wrap, extending plastic over sides. Spread 3/4 cup cream cheese-butter mixture evenly over bottom of prepared dish. Top with half of tomato mixture, then 1/2 cup cream cheese-butter mixture, then half of pesto mixture. Repeat layering with 1/2 cup cream cheese-butter mixture, remaining tomato mixture, 1/2 cup cream cheese-butter mixture and remaining pesto. Top with remaining cream cheese-butter mixture. Cover and chill overnight. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Keep refrigerated.)
• Invert torta onto platter. Peel off plastic. Garnish with basil sprigs and toasted pine nuts. Serve with baguette slices.

PESTO AND SUN-DRIED TOMATO TORTE

Steps:

• In food processor, place cream cheese, Parmesan cheese and garlic. Cover and process until blended. Divide into thirds (about 1 cup each).
• Line 5-cup mold or 8x4-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap. Spoon one-third of the cheese mixture in bottom of mold; smooth top with spatula. Spoon pesto evenly over cheese layer. Spoon one-third of the cheese mixture over pesto layer; smooth top with spatula. Spoon tomatoes evenly over second cheese layer. Spoon remaining cheese mixture over tomatoes. Strike filled mold on counter to pack down. Cover and refrigerate at least 24 hours.
• When ready to serve, turn mold upside down onto serving platter and remove plastic wrap. Serve torte with baguette slices.

CHICKEN, PESTO AND SUN-DRIED TOMATO PASTA

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in frying pan over medium-high heat.
• Season chicken with salt and pepper, add to pan and cook for 5-7 minutes each side or until cooked through.
• Transfer to a plate and cover to keep warm.
• Cook pasta according to packet direction, drain and return to saucepan.
• Heat remaining oil in pan, add tomatoes and toss for a minute.
• Thinly slice chicken and return to pan; add pesto and cream and toss over low heat til well combined.
• Add pasta and mix well, season with salt and pepper if desired.
• Serve accompanied with parmesan cheese.

BASIL PESTO STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATO CREAM

Steps:

• For Pesto, wash basil and remove stems. In food processor mix basil, garlic, pine nuts, pepper and Parmesan. Blend until smooth and slowly add oil.
• Pound chicken breasts to 1/4 inch thickness. Place one slice prosciutto and 1 T. pesto on chicken breast. Tuck in ends and roll jelly style. Secure with toothpicks.
• Drizzle with 2 T. lemon juice, chopped garlic and olive oil. You may either grill these or bake at 350 for 30 minute.
• While breasts are cooking make basil cream.
• Sauté shallots in butter. Add wine and bring to a boil.
• Cook until liquid is reduced to 1/4 cup Add cream and return to boil. Cook 8- 10 minute or until sauce is reduced to 1 cup.
• Whisk continually, add tomatoes and cook 2 minute Whisk in basil and lemon.
• Cook until heated thoroughly. To thicken sauce add cornstarch mixture slowly.
• Remove toothpick and cut the chicken breasts in slices to show off the center. Drizzle the chicken with sauce.
• **Serve this with your choice of pasta and dbl the sauce, or when it's just Dereck and I, I only make 2 chicken breasts and there is enough sauce for our pasta.

SUN DRIED TOMATO PESTO (NO NUTS)

Steps:

• Place sun-dried tomatoes in a small pot and cover with water; bring to a boil. Remove from heat and let tomatoes soften, about 10 minutes. Drain.
• Blend tomatoes, basil, Parmesan cheese, garlic, and salt in a blender until mixed. Slowly add olive oil, about 1/4 cup at a time; blend until smooth.

GOAT CHEESE, SUN-DRIED TOMATO, AND PESTO TORTA

Steps:

• Mix goat cheese and cream cheese in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Combine goat-cream cheese mixture with the sun-dried tomatoes, tomato paste, and vinegar in a separate bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste. (again).
• Line a 2-cup ramekin or a small bowl with plastic wrap, extending the wrap over the sides. spray the plastic wrap with vegetable oil cooking spray. Spread half the goat-cream cheese mixture evenly in the bottom of the ramekin. Cover with pesto, then with the cheese tomato mixture. top with remaining goat cheese mixture. Fold wrap over the final cheese layer and refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 1/2 hours.
• Invert the torta onto a platter and peel off the plastic wrap. Garnish with basil and serve with baguette slices.
• **The torta can be made 2days ahead and refrigerated. This torta can be so gorgeous if you pay attention to making clean, well defined layers.

BAKED CHICKEN WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATO PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500*F.
• Line a 13x9" baking pan with foil; arrange chicken in the pan.
• Combine the sun-dried tomatoes, 2 Tbsp.
• of the oil, basil, Parmesan cheese, garlic, and pepper in a food processor; whirl until smooth.
• Spread about half (around 1/4 cup) of the pesto over the chicken.
• Bake about 15-20 minutes, or until juices run clear; remove pan from oven.
• Heat the broiler.
• Spread the remaining pesto over the chicken; broil 6" from heat for 3-5 minutes, or until browned.

BUTTER BEAN, SUN-DRIED TOMATO AND PESTO SOUP

Steps:

• Put stock in a pan with the butter beans and bring just to a boil.
• Reduce the heat and stir in the tomato puree and pesto.
• Cook gently for 5 minutes.
• Transfer six ladlefuls of the soup to a blender or food processor, scooping up plenty of the beans.
• Process until smooth, then return the puree to the pan.
• Heat gently, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes, then season if necessary.
• Ladel into warmed soup bowls and serve with a warm crusty bread or bread sticks.

LINGUINE WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATO PESTO

Steps:

• Combine sun-dried tomatoes, Romano cheese, basil, pine nuts and garlic in food processor. With machine running, gradually add olive oil and process until smooth paste forms. (Can be made prepared 2 weeks ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Cook linguine in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Combine 3/4 cup tomato pesto with reserved cooking liquid in same pot. Add linguine and toss over medium-high heat to coat, adding more pesto, if desired. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO PESTO-CRUSTED CHICKEN BREAST OVER CREAMY HERB POLENTA

Steps:

• For the chicken with sun-dried tomato pesto crust:
• For the creamy polenta:
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• For the pesto crust:
• Blend sun-dried tomatoes, garlic cloves and basil leaves in a food processor. Stir in Parmesan and add salt and pepper, to taste. Set aside briefly. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Season chicken breast with pepper only. (The Parmesan in the pesto will provide salt.) Brown both sides of chicken, beginning with skin side first. Coat chicken with pesto and roast in oven for 25 to 35 minutes, or until fork tender.
• For the polenta:
• Combine chicken stock and cream in a large heavy saucepan. Heat to a gentle boil over medium heat, being careful not to burn. While whisking constantly, gradually add the cornmeal in a thin stream. Once cornmeal is incorporated, keep heat low and continue to whisk until mixture is slightly thickened and creamy. Stir in butter and Cheddar and allow cheese to melt. Season with pepper, (and salt if needed). Spoon polenta onto serving plate, top with chicken breast and garnish with chopped scallions.

PESTO, SUN-DRIED TOMATO, ARTICHOKE, SPINACH, FETA PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500°F.
• Roll or stretch pizza dough out on a lightly floured work surface to a 12-inch circle and transfer to a lightly-floured pizza pan or baking sheet.
• Brush dough with pesto.
• Scatter the sun-dried tomatoes around the pizza.
• Sprinkle the mozzarella evenly, next layer the spinach leaves.
• Scatter the artichokes, Roma tomatoes and crumbled feta.
• Season to taste with pepper.
• Top with parmesan.
• Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until crust is browned.

BROILED PORK CHOPS WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATO & CHIPOTLE PESTO

Steps:

• To prepare Sun Dried Tomato & Chipotle Pesto: Place all the ingredients in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped and pasty.
• Position an oven rack 6 inches from the broiler element and heat the broiler to high. Set the pork chops on a heavy-duty rimmed baking sheet or broiler pan. Season both sides of the pork chops with the salt and a few grinds black pepper and then cover both sides of the pork with the pesto; it should completely cover the pork. Let it sit for 10 minutes.
• Broil until the pesto darkens and any exposed parts of the pork chops become brown, about 4 minutes. Flip and continue cooking until the pork becomes firm to the touch and registers 145 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, another 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the chops to serving plates. If any pesto remains on the pan, scrape it up and top the chops with it.

PENNE WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATO PESTO AND CHICKEN

Steps:

• Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to the bite (al dente), stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile chop cooked chicken.
• Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
• Blend the sun-dried tomatoes and their oil, garlic, salt and pepper, to taste, and basil in a food processor and blend until the tomatoes are very finely chopped.
• Transfer the tomato mixture to a large bowl and stir in the Parmesan and the chicken.
• Add the pasta to the pesto and toss to coat, adding enough reserved cooking liquid to moisten.
• Season the pasta to taste, with salt and pepper and serve.

BOW TIE PASTA WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATO PESTO

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package directions for al dente. Reserve 2 cups of the pasta cooking water before draining. Return the cooked pasta to the pot.
• While the pasta cooks, heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion just begins to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the sausage, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until starting to turn golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the sun-dried tomatoes and the oil from the jar, red peppers, red pepper liquid, walnuts, parsley, Parmesan, vinegar, tomato paste, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper in a food processor and process until smooth.
• Add the sausage mixture and sun-dried tomato pesto to the pot with the pasta and stir until well combined, stirring in as much of the reserved pasta water as necessary to make a creamy sauce. Garnish with chopped parsley and more Parmesan.

PESTO & SUN-DRIED TOMATO SPREAD

Steps:

• cream together the cheeses, until well blended.
• add the pesto and tomatoes.
• put into a serving dish/shape into a rectangle.
• top with walnuts.
• chill and serve.

GOAT CHEESE PESTO SUN-DRIED TOMATO SPREAD (MAKE AHEAD)

Steps:

• Line an 8 x 4 loaf pan with plastic wrap.
• Process the first five ingredients in a food processor until smooth.
• Spread one-third of the cheese mixture in the lined pan.
• Top with the pesto.
• Spread one-third of the cheese mixture over pesto.
• Spread the chopped, drained sun dried tomatoes next.
• Top with the remaining cheese mixture.
• Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours (or up to 2 days).
• Invert spread onto serving plate. Garnish, if desired, with tomato slivers and/or herb leaves.
• Serve with french bread slices (or crackers).

CHICKEN, ARTICHOKE AND SUN-DRIED TOMATO WITH PESTO

Steps:

• Fill a large saucepan with water and bring to a boil over HIGH heat and add salt.
• Add the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally until barely tender, about 4 minutes.
• Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water and drain the pasta.
• In a separate skillet, heat the olive oil on MEDIUM.
• Add the chicken and garlic and cook throughout (about 3-5 minutes).
• Add the artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, reserved cooking water, ginger, thyme, and pesto and cook 1-2 minutes more. Use my pesto recipe: http://www.recipezaar.com/rz.193016.
• Toss all ingredients together with the pasta and cheese. Add more cheese is desired. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO BASIL PESTO

Steps:

• Combine basil, sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, garlic, and salt in the bowl of a food processor; pulse until blended. Pour olive oil in slowly, with the processor running, until a paste forms. Blend to desired texture.