Sun dried Tomato Pesto Pasta Bake Vegan (Orecchiette)

Today’s sun-dried tomato pesto pasta bake is a versatile dish that you can enjoy throughout the year, including Summer and Winter. The fresh ingredients make it a perfect Summer dish that can be enjoyed cold. Yet, if you enjoy it right out of the oven is a great one for colder days, especially with the goodness of the sun dried tomatoes.

What to expect: bite into the crispy orecchiette coated with warm sundried tomato pesto that’s oozing with flavour; you’ll soon meet a piece of olive and basil, all wrapped in the beautiful vegan cream cheese. Can you believe this is vegan?

 

 

How to make sun dried tomato pesto?

To make sun dried tomato pesto you definitely need sun dried tomatoes. All you need to add is extra virgin olive oil and your favourite Italian herbs, like basil.

If you want to make it richer, you can add garlic and nuts, such as pine nuts or almonds. Other variations include capers and anchovies.

Independently of how many ingredients you add, the secret to the most delicious red pesto is the quality of your main ingredient. We’ll talk about this next.

 

 

How are sun dried tomatoes made?

Sun dried tomatoes are made following the steps below:

1. Tomatoes are washed and cut into half, preferably vertically especially if they are elongated.
2. They are laid on a clean surface in the sun, one next to each other.
3. Each tomato is covered with salt, and left to dry in the sun until sunset.
4. At sunset, you’ll need to take them in, and put them out again the next morning.
5. This process is repeated for about 10 days.

 

Obviously, a clean environment is essential for the quality of the final result; so is the right type and quantity of salt, as well as the right amount of sunshine.

However, the most important aspect is the type of tomatoes used.

 

What is the best type of tomatoes to make sun dried tomatoes?

In order to achieve the best result, you need your tomatoes to have a thick skin and flesh, and a low content of seeds and water.

The number one variety, that fits both criteria, is San Marzano.

Not only San Marzano are low in water and have a good skin consistency, but they are also the king of tomatoes when it comes to taste. They have the perfect balance between sweet and tart.

Their elongated shape also makes them perfect to be cut sideways and obtain large pieces of sun dried tomatoes, even after being dried.

 

 

San Marzano Tomatoes: where to buy them

Have you heard about how delicious these are, tasted them in Italy, but can’t find them here in Ireland or Europe?

If so, we are happy to let you know that we have a good variety of products featuring these precious vegetable.

1. Belmorso Sun dried Tomatoes – delicious tomato bites to add extra flavour to salads, panini, pizza, buddha bowls, stews, pasta, stuffed chicken and much more.
2. Belmorso Sun dried Tomato Paté – has a pesto consistency that’s ideal for pasta, spread on bread or meats, and enjoyed as a dip or condiment.

 

If you are looking for a vegan sun dried tomato pesto without nuts, the above doesn’t contain any.

You might also like this pasta sauce:

1. Pronto Spaghetti with sun dried tomatoes – perfect to add to spaghetti or short pasta; you can also use it to dress protein and spread on bread.

 

Whichever you like, simply add to cart, buy it and we’ll deliver your order to you within 5 days. You get free delivery on Ireland when you spend €50.

While you are shopping for these, don’t forget to try our artisan Italian pasta made from exceptional 100% Italian durum wheat.

 

 

How to use Sun dried Tomato Pesto?

There are at least one thousand ways you can use it, whether raw or cooked. If you like tomatoes, salty food and high quality produce you’ll love this one.

Make pasta with it

As we are doing in this recipe, you can use it to make pasta both regular, pasta salads and bakes.

Here’s another recipe to try next: Creamy salmon pasta lactose-free (leave the salmon out to make the recipe vegan).

 

Panini and Appetizers

Try it as a spread on a healthy ham and mozzarella sandwich.

Fill your puff pastry savoury croissants with it.

 

More sun dried tomato pesto recipe ideas

1. Vegetarian sun dried tomato pesto mozzarella sandwich
2. Vegan sun dried tomato pesto bruschetta
3. Sundried tomato pesto focaccia with olives and artichokes
4. A fresh sun dried tomato pesto salad with rucola, mozzarella balls, marinated tofu and roasted potatoes (vegetarian)
5. Sundried tomato pesto cream sauce
6. Baked sun dried tomato pesto salmon (pescatarian)
7. Grilled cheese sundried tomato pesto panini

 

 

Ingredients for Pasta Bake with Sun dried Tomatoes

These are all the ingredients you need to make this one dish pasta bake.

Belmorso Sun dried tomato pesto

Belmorso Orecchiette Pasta – I am using wholemeal

Black olives

Garlic

Fresh basil (dry will do too)

Vegan cream cheese

Vegan parmesan

Breadcrumbs

Belmorso EVOO for oiling the dish and drizzling

 

 

One Pan Sun dried Tomato Pasta Recipe

It’s time to finally make this incredible, simple and quick pasta bake.

Please note that we are making this pasta bake without cream. Should you wish to also make it without cheese, you’ll need to add more pasta water and more extra virgin olive oil. The result will be not creamy but still tasty.

To make your pasta bake creamy to the max, simply add more cream cheese 5 minutes before taking it out of the oven.

If you prefer making a chicken sundried tomato pasta bake, all you need to do is add your pre-cooked chicken mixed in with the pasta. You can also use raw minced chicken but if you do we suggest using a small amount and spreading it evenly, so it can cook quickly.

Follow the recipe below step by step on your device; if you prefer, you can also print it out.

 

 

 

Are you supposed to cook sun-dried tomatoes?

In this final section, I am answering many questions that might come up when you are making this recipe. If you have more, ask them in the comments and I will get to them.

 

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