Receta Pesto Cavatappi {Noodles & Company Copycat}
Mar
28th
Pasta can be one of the cheapest meals around, but once in a while it’s worth it to overpay because you just love a dish so much. The Pesto Cavatappi at Noodles & Company is that sort of dish: Chewy noodles and a creamy pesto sauce with a few bright pieces of tomato to keep things interested. Nevermind that I can buy a half-dozen boxes of pasta at the grocery store for the price of one bowl at Noodles… it’s really very delicious, and it’s one of many great options. Except wait – huge problem. Noodles & Company isn’t in Los Angeles! Looks like I’m going to have to saddle up and make my own Pesto Cavatappi. And, I’ll be saving money along the way!
Noodles & Company uses mushrooms in their dish, but I left them out in my version because my husband, Jim, won’t stand for mushrooms. Add them if you love them! I did, however, add the handful of tomato chunks per their norm. I like the occasional tomato here; it adds a bright flavor against the pesto cream sauce. It works.
If you’re stuck in LA like me, longing for a taste of home, try my Noodles & Company Copycat recipe for Pesto Cavatappi. You’ll find it’s just as good as the real thing, and hey, something IS cheaper in LA! :)
Pesto Cavatappi {Noodles & Company Copycat}
- 1 lb. cavatappi pasta or other small pasta
- Salt
- 1 T. olive oil
- 1 large tomato, cored and diced
- ½ c. dry white wine
- ¼ c. heavy whipping cream
- 1 c. homemade or purchased pesto
- 1 c. shredded Parmesan cheese
In a large saucepan or stock pot, bring 4 quarts of water to a boil. Add pasta and 1 T. salt and cook until al dente, about 10 to 12 minutes. Drain well.
Meanwhile, heat 1 T. olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add tomatoes and cook for about 5 minutes, until some of the liquid has been released and the tomatoes are heated through.
Stir in the wine and cream and bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium and cook until the sauce has thickened slightly, about 2 minutes.
Add pesto and stir until heated through, about 2 minutes. Add pasta and toss until uniformly coated in the sauce. Transfer to a serving dish or individual plates and garnish with Parmesan cheese.
3.2.2310
I am a mother and the recipe developer behind Culinary Hill. I was born and raised in Wisconsin, but now I find inspiration every day in my Southern California kitchen.