This easy weeknight Smoked Almond Pesto Cavatappi pasta dish is made entirely in the time it takes to boil pasta and is so flavorful from the smoked almonds added to a basil pesto base. It’s a new take on a classic pesto that’s delicious and easy.
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Why You’ll Love this Recipe
Traditional basil pesto is probably one of my all time favorite sauces for hot pasta. It’s so fresh and really can be used in so many ways from pasta and raviolis to using as a crust on chicken, or mixing into ground beef for delicious meatballs or meatloaf, to swirled into soups and stews. The possibilities are endless with it. And I’m here for all of them.
The addition of smoked almonds and smoked paprika is a nice change to the simple basil pesto recipe. Other types of pesto are: parsley pesto, arugula pesto, mint pesto, pistachio pesto, and so many more!
What is Cavatappi pasta?
All About Cavatappi
Cavatappi (“corkscrew” in Italian) is a type of macaroni that is long, thick, hollow, and spiral shaped. Cavatappi pairs great with sauces that are thin to medium in texture to enrobe the pasta and get into the nooks and crannies making it wonderful for pestos, cream sauces, and pomodoro (tomato sauce).
Substitutes for Cavatappi
You can substitute cavatappi for elbow macaroni, farfalle (bow-tie pasta), rigatoni, penne, fusilli, or rotini.
Where can I buy Cavatappi?
I am a huge fan of buying pasta at import stores like World Market or HomeGoods/TJ Maxx because the pastas are imported from Italy and there is usually a wide variety of pasta shapes that you wouldn’t typically find at the grocery store. So whenever I hit up HomeGoods, there’s sure to be a few bags of pasta in my cart. This is not a sponsored post by HomeGoods, but if you know someone there, send them my info. ◡̈
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Cavatappi pasta – or other shaped pasta so the pesto can get into the nooks and crannies
- Fresh basil leaves – clip the leaves off and either save the stems for another use or toss
- Fresh garlic cloves – whole fresh garlic cloves
- Smoked Almonds – smoked almonds come in a can and can be found in the snacks aisle at most grocery stores.
- Parmesan cheese – freshly grated parmesan cheese will yield the most flavor in the pesto
- Extra virgin olive oil – or other olive oil
- Salt & Black Pepper – to taste
- Smoked Paprika – optional, but highly recommend because it will add that extra layer of smoky deliciousness.
Find the printable recipe card with exact measurements and instructions below.
Variations, Tips & Tricks
- Substitute / Add Nuts: this recipe can be made with a variety of different nut including: slivered almonds, toasted pine nuts, or toasted walnuts.
- Substitute / Add Vegetables: if you want to pack a little more veggie punch, try adding halved cherry tomatoes, steamed broccoli florets, or lightly blanched asparagus pieces.
How to Make Cavatappi with Smoked Almond Pesto
Step 1: Make the Pesto Sauce
In the bowl of a food processor or blender, add the basil, garlic cloves, smoked almonds, parmesan cheese, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper and process/blend until minced well. With the processor running, slowly add the olive oil until it becomes a smooth texture. Set aside.
Step 2: Boil the Pasta
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add pasta and cook according to the package instructions.
Step 3: Make the Creamy Smoked Almond Pesto Sauce
Meanwhile heat a large skillet or frying pan over medium heat. Add the pesto and heavy cream stirring well to combine. Do not boil, you just want to heat it all through.
Step 4: Toss and Serve
Drain the pasta water and toss the pasta with the creamy pesto sauce and plate. Top with chopped smoked almonds, a little more parmesan cheese and serve.
What to Serve with Pesto Pasta Recipes
More Pasta & Pesto Recipes We Love
Here are some of my fave pasta and pesto recipes that I think you’ll love!
- Summer Vegetable Pesto Pasta
- Pesto and Burrata Skillet Pizza
- Green Bean Mushroom Gratin
- Puff Pastry Pesto Chicken
Smoked Almond Pesto Cavatappi Recipe
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Ingredients
- 1 lb cavatappi pasta, or any pasta shape
- 3 cloves garlic
- ⅓ cup smoked almonds, plus more for topping
- 2 cups fresh basil
- 6 tbsp olive oil
- 4 tbsp parmesan cheese, freshly grated, plus more for topping
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- kosher salt, to taste
- black pepper, to taste
- ½ cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and stir well. Allow to boil for the recommended time on the package or until the pasta is tender and done to your liking.
- In the bowl of a food processor, add the garlic, smoked almonds, basil leaves, parmesan cheese and smoked paprika. Pulse until the mixture is mostly smooth. With the food processor running add the olive oil. Add salt & black pepper to taste and pulse a few times to combine.
- Meanwhile heat a large skillet or frying pan over medium heat. Add the pesto and heavy cream stirring well to combine. Do not boil, you just want to heat it all through.
- Drain the pasta and toss with the creamy smoked almond pesto. Top with more chopped smoked almonds and more parmesan before serving.
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Nutrition
*Nutritional information is not guaranteed to be accurate.
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Hi! I’m Heather
I’m Heather, a recipe developer and content creator based in Vancouver, Washington. I started Farmgirl Gourmet in 2006 because I believed weeknight dinners shouldn’t be boring and gourmet shouldn’t mean complicated. I’m also the co-founder of Spiceology, so safe to say I think about food for a living. Stick around for recipes that actually make it into your regular rotation.
This recipe elevates the standard basil pesto with the smoked almonds and it’s incredibly flavorful. I hope you enjoy!