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Penne with Roast Vegetables and Fresh Pesto
























When you roast vegetables they taste divine. It gives them such a distinct flavour and yet it's something I don't often do.

It was watching an old episode of Delia Smith on TV that tempted me. She was making a lasagne with roast vegetables and it looked so good. My mouth was watering as I watched her cook and I realised that I'd not roasted vegetables for such a long time. I decided I'd leave the Roasted Mediterranean Vegetable Lasagne for another time and instead I'd serve my vegetables with penne  pasta and some freshly made pesto.

I have such a lot of basil growing in pots, just waiting to be used and there is nothing nicer than freshly made pesto. Add a sprinkling of feta cheese and you have a match made in heaven.

Penne with Roast Vegetable and Fresh Pesto

Roast Vegetables

1 red bell pepper, cut into chunks
1 onion, peeled and quartered
1 courgette, sliced
12 cherry tomatoes
6 closed cup mushrooms, halved
2 cloves garlic
a few leaves of basil
2 tbsp olive oil
salt & freshly ground black pepper


Pesto

a large handful basil
1/3 cup pine nuts
1 clove garlic
5 tbsp freshly grated parmesan
5-6 tbsp olive oil
freshly ground black pepper


Pasta

Penne

Topping

feta cheese
freshly ground black pepper


Pre-heat the oven to 240c/475f/gas mark 9.

In a large bowl, coat the pepper courgette and onion with most of the oil and season. Pour into a roasting tin and cook for 15 minutes. Next coat and season the mushrooms, garlic and tomatoes and add them to the roasting tin. These won't need as long to cook. Leave in for another 15 minutes until the vegetables are browning at the edges.

Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions until al dente. I was using an unfamiliar brand and probably left mine in a minute or two too long.

Next make the pesto. Dry roast the pine nuts in a pan until they are beginning to take on some colour. This will give them a lovely flavour. Place all of the ingredients in a food processor and whizz up until you have a slightly coarse pesto. Taste for seasoning.

Drain the pasta and coat in 4 tbsp pesto before tossing in the vegetables. Crumble over some feta cheese and grind some black pepper over the dish before serving.

I made enough pasta for two and used the remaining vegetables on wraps, but their is enough pesto and vegetables to serve up to 6 people.

This pasta dish would also be delicious as a cold pasta salad. If this is the way you want to go, then rinse the pasta in cold water to stop the cooking process and allow the vegetables to cool before adding them to the pesto coated pasta.

28 comments

  1. very tasty looking and perfect for the hot weather. Thanks for sharing with Presto Pasta Nights.

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  2. Thanks Ruth, I am looking forward to the line-up as ever :)

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  3. I love this dish - simple, full of flavors and delicious. I just made a roasted veggie pasta and we all loved it.

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  4. We love any and all things pesto and cheese, so this would be included.

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  5. Me too Sophie :)

    Hi Duo Dishes, I am a bit of a sucker for cheese too, in all it's glorious shapes and forms :)

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  6. I couldn't agree with you more that roasting brings out the best in veggies. Roasted veggies and pasta are the perfect combo.

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  7. I roast far more veg in winter than summer so at the moment it is quite a common thing for me to do - love those veg you roasted but my current faves are pumpkin, brussels sprouts and cauliflower - I love how you put the pesto in with them - I can also recommend yoghurt and mustard through pasta and roast veg

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  8. It looks great and has all the ingredients I love. Great recipe.

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  9. I am making roasted tomato & basil pasta now. Love roasted veggies & pasta together.

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  10. I made med roasted veg last night. Agree, it is divine!! Fresh pesto sounds wonderful.

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  11. Couldn't agree more - the flavour is so good when you roast them. I often do a roasted vegetable couscous salad when I'm barbecuing and then take the leftovers to work the next day. Lovely!

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  12. Pesto and pine nuts together are a must (I do them with tortellini) but I never thought about actually putting the pine nuts into the pesto. Great idea! The rest of the dish sounds wonderful.

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  13. This is very similar to one of our favourite pasta dinners! Never thought about the sprinkling pinenuts over it though. Great idea. :)

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  14. This looks good.
    I make a variation of this on and off, with whatever veggies I have on hand and its always a hit!

    I don't get feta here, so I use paneer.

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  15. I love roasted veggies as well even though I definitely don't do it enough. Thanks reminding me of how good they are!

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  16. I love adding roasted veggies to my pasta. this looks great.

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  17. Sounds wonderful! I am making pasta for dinner tonight because I want something easy and filling. I'm starved! Right now there is a gingerbread cake cooking in the oven. I am making it for Dave's birthday!

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  18. I love roasted veggies... and this dish just screams summertime. Pass me a fork, please! :)

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  19. Roast veggies are one of my favourite dishes. They are just so easy to make and taste so delish!

    Rose

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  20. like everyone above i love roasted veggies, this dish looks so summery and fresh, but hey where's the halloumi...?;)

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  21. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  22. Yes, it's a very simple idea, but one that I too have forgotten about.

    Good old Delia. I often find myself nodding off when I hear her voice, but she's very good.

    (That was me before - fingers too fast and many mis-spellings...very shaming. Better this time!)

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  23. Yoghurt and mustard mixed through roasr veg sounds great Johanna, but I draw the line at roasting brussel sprouts! That's so not for me, yeugh!

    Thanks Apple Crumbles :)

    Roast tomatoes and basil on pasta sounds great Soma! I have only roasted tomatoes on their own for soup. I will have to try it :)

    Hi Beth, I am glad to hear we are on the same wavelength yet again :)

    You have just inspired me Antonia. I am taking a dish along to a friend's house tomorrow night and wasn't sure what to make, but couscous with roast veg it is :)

    Thanks Davimack :)

    Your tortellin sounds great TB :)

    It seems like everyone is roasting veg just now Wendy. It is just a pity we aren't getting the weather to roast them on the bbq :(

    Paneer would work too Aparna. It is just a pity that you don't get to have the pleasure od enjoying feta cheese over there. It is so wonderful :)

    Get your raosting tin out Joanne, you know you wnat to :)

    Thanks Food Hunter :)

    I bet the smell of ginger is floating around the house tempting everyone! Say Happy Birthday to Dave for me Lisa :)

    Here you go Culinography, *passing fork* :)

    Roast veggies never let you down Rose, always a good stand by :)

    Oh, wow, halloumi would have been great with this Pia! In fact, I am going to put it in my couscous dish that Antonia inspired!

    You old lady you Lucy, imagine falling asleep in front of the tv! I never to that *cough, cough, ahem*

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  24. Mmm I love roasted vegetables too. And having them with pesto and feta sounds like the perfect way to eat them.

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  25. Hi Ashley, it was good, in fact I am getting hungry thinking about it! It perhaps is not the best dish for breakfast though!

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