Pistachio Pesto Penne with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Arugula

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A vibrant Italian-inspired brunch pasta featuring nutty pistachio pesto tossed with al dente penne, sweet sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh peppery arugula. This Italian-inspired brunch recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 22 minutes, combines penne pasta, pistachios, fresh basil leaves into a breakfast that fuels the morning without the midday crash — make-ahead-friendly and balanced enough to anchor the first meal of the day. Each serving lands at about 520 calories and feeds 3, so it sits comfortably in a weekly breakfast rotation alongside fruit, yogurt, or coffee. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 12 min Serves 3 Italian cuisine 520 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 oz penne pasta and cook for 10-12 minutes until al dente. Drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
  2. Step 2: Meanwhile, in a food processor, combine 1/2 cup shelled pistachios, 1 cup fresh basil leaves, 2 garlic cloves, 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Pulse while slowly streaming in 1/3 cup olive oil until a smooth pesto forms.
  3. Step 3: In a large mixing bowl, toss the drained pasta with the pistachio pesto and 1 tbsp lemon juice, adding reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time until sauce evenly coats the pasta.
  4. Step 4: Fold in 1/3 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes and 2 cups fresh arugula until the greens slightly wilt from the heat.
  5. Step 5: Serve immediately with extra grated parmesan if desired.

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