Fresh Tomato and Pesto Penne with Parmesan

Course Main Dishes
Prep. Time 5 mins
Cooking Time 15 mins
Yields 4 servings

3/4 milk product serving(s) per person

Preparation
Nutritional Info
Comments (3)

Preparation

What You Need

12 oz (375 g) penne or

other short pasta

2 tbsp (30 ml) all-purpose flour

2 cups (500 ml) milk

1/3 cup (80 ml) prepared basil pesto

1/2 tsp (2 ml) salt

1/4 tsp (1 ml) pepper

2 cups (500 ml) grape or

cherry tomatoes, halved

Freshly grated Canadian Parmesan cheese

Fresh basil leaves

Instructions

In large saucepan, cook penne according to directions on package; drain immediately and return to saucepan.

Whisk flour into milk and pour over pasta in pan. Stir in pesto; cook over medium heat, stirring, for about 5 min or until sauce is thickened. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in tomatoes and serve sprinkled with Parmesan cheese. Garnish with fresh basil.

Tips

Cooking Tip:
Look for prepared basil pesto in the refrigerated section of the grocery store with the fresh pastas or in jars with the tomato pasta sauces. Make sure basil is the first ingredient in the list on the label.

For the Adventurous: Add 1 19 oz can (540 mL) chickpeas, drained and rinsed, with pesto. Add 1 cup (250 mL) mini or quartered bocconcini cheese and 1/3 cup (80 mL) slivered fresh basil with tomatoes.

Healthy Eating Tip:
If you're pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant you need to pay special attention to four key nutrients: folate, iron, Vitamin D and calcium. This recipe is an excellent source of three of these hard to get nutrients. A focus on fibre and fluids may also be helpful. Follow these tips:

Select a whole grain pasta to boost the fibre in this dish.
Add cold milk, chocolate milk or even a decaf latte to top up Vitamin D, calcium and fluid.
Sprinkle with extra Parmesan for a calcium boost.
Pair this dish with a spinach and orange salad to complement the excellent source of folate in this dish.
Add thin slices of cooked roast beef or cooked beans to maximize the iron your body can use.

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2 out of 3 Canadians are not getting enough milk products every day. Discover the multiple benefits of milk products and learn more about the recommended number of servings.
Getenough.ca

Nutritional Info

Per serving

Energy: 543 Calories
Protein: 19 g
Carbohydrate: 82 g
Fat: 15 g
Fibre: 5 g
Sodium: 775 mg

Top 5 nutrients provided by a serving of this recipe

Nutrient (% DV)*

Calcium: 22 % / 242 mg
Folate: 89 % / 196 mcg
Thiamin: 46 % / 0.6 mg
Niacin: 39 % / 9 mg
Magnesium: 32 % / 79 mg

* Note: The daily value (DV) is established by Health Canada and corresponds to the daily quantity recommended for each nutrient. The percentage of the daily value (% DV) indicates the proportion of the nutrient provided by a serving of the recipe, in comparison with the quantity recommended.

2 out of 3 Canadians are not getting enough milk products every day. Discover the multiple benefits of milk products and learn more about the recommended number of servings.
Getenough.ca

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