Tomato-Basil Pasta with Toasted Pine Nuts

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.

Al dente pasta tossed in a fresh tomato and basil sauce, topped with crunchy toasted pine nuts for a delightful vegetarian dinner. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 25 minutes, pairs penne pasta, ripe tomatoes, diced, fresh basil leaves, chopped for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. 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: 15 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 450 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 10 oz penne pasta and cook for 10-12 minutes until al dente, then drain.
  2. Step 2: While pasta cooks, heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.
  3. Step 3: Add 3 cups diced ripe tomatoes, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper to the skillet. Simmer for 8-10 minutes until the tomatoes break down into a chunky sauce.
  4. Step 4: Meanwhile, toast 1/4 cup pine nuts in a small dry pan over medium heat, stirring constantly for 2-3 minutes until golden and fragrant. Set aside.
  5. Step 5: Stir 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves into the tomato sauce, then add the drained pasta and toss well to combine.
  6. Step 6: Serve pasta topped with toasted pine nuts and 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese.

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