Pesto Cavitappi

I found this recipe years ago and love it! It is meant to be a copycat recipe from Noodles and Company, but I think it's an improvement. I add either sauteed shrimp or prepared  cubed chicken breast to make it a meal. I have made a few adjustments to the recipe

Ingredients

8 ounces cavatappi noodles or pasta of your choice ( I sometimes add less pasta because of adding shrimp or chicken)

1/2 pint (or a little more) grape or cherry tomatoes, sliced in half 

1/2 pint sliced mushrooms

1/3 cup dry white wine (I use dry vermouth)

1/3 cup cream

8 ounces pesto*

extra virgin olive oil

1lb. sauteed shrimp or prepared chicken breast

*My pesto recipe 

https://peggyscooking.blogspot.com/2026/06/pesto.html

Directions

Cook pasta as directed on packaging.

While pasta is cooking, saute the mushrooms in about a tablespoon extra virgin olive oil.

When the pasta is almost done, add the wine and tomatoes to the mushrooms and reduce for 3 minutes. Then add the cream to the tomatoes and mushrooms and reduce for another 1-2 minutes. Add the pesto and stir to create the sauce.

Add the drained pasta and meat of choice to the pesto mixture. Stir very well and let sit a minute to soak up the pesto sauce.

 

Pesto

I absolutely love to make a ton of pesto in the summer to use all year long and give as gifts to all of my pesto loving friends and relatives! It freezes so well that it's perfect to bring out in the winter when I'm craving a Pesto Pizza, or want to make Pesto Cavatappi!...

 Ingredients

1 cup basil or arugula, firmly packed leaves

2 cloves garlic

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/3 cup *pine nuts

1/2 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Place basil, pine nuts, salt, pepper, garlic, and Parmesan cheese into a food processor or blender. Turn the food processor on, and add the olive oil in a slow, steady stream. Continue processing until a soft paste has formed. Store in the refrigerator or jar and place in the freezer for future use.

 

*Because pine nuts are so expensive, I sometimes substitute with other nuts like pepitas.