Cavatelli Pesto recipe served on a plate, by Pekin the Chef
Jul 13 2026

Cavatelli Pesto Recipe

Time30m
Serves4

Creamy basil pesto tossed with cavatelli and roasted red peppers

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Ingredients

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Pasta

Roasted Red Peppers

Method

Pasta Preparation

1

Boil Water

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

2

Cook Cavatelli

Add the cavatelli pasta to the boiling water and cook according to package instructions until al dente, usually about 7-9 minutes.

3

Drain Pasta

Once cooked, drain the pasta and reserve about 1/2 cup of the pasta water.

Pesto Preparation

4

Combine Ingredients

In a food processor, combine the fresh basil leaves, pine nuts, garlic cloves, Parmesan cheese, salt, and black pepper.

5

Chop Mixture

Pulse the mixture until it is finely chopped.

6

Add Olive Oil

With the food processor running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until the pesto reaches your desired consistency.

7

Add Lemon Juice

Add the lemon juice and pulse a few more times to combine.

Combine and Serve

8

Toss Pasta and Pesto

In a large mixing bowl, toss the cooked cavatelli with the pesto, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time until the sauce coats the pasta evenly.

9

Add Roasted Peppers

Gently fold in the sliced roasted red peppers.

10

Serve

Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese if desired.

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