As a busy mom I'm always looking for easy recipes and yummy shortcuts when it comes to meals, snacks and appetizers. I'm a big fan of Barilla products so I was excited to try Barilla Creamy Genovese Pesto thanks to Moms Meet. Barilla Creamy Genovese Pesto is made with Italian basil and freshly grated Italian cheese. It's imported from Italy, and one 6.2-ounce jar of pesto mixes well with 16 ounces of pasta (a little goes a long way!). It doesn't even need to be heated before use. It's creamy with a rich savory flavor and smells amazing while it's cooking! Read on for an easy Rigatoni and Sausage recipe that I made using Barilla Creamy Genovese Pesto.
Disclosure: I received this product from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) in order to facilitate my recipe and review, but this in no way influenced my opinion.
Don't you just love it when a trusted brand comes up with a good product to enhance our cooking experiences? I love Barilla products so I was happy to sample this one and create my own recipe. Barilla Creamy Genovese Pesto can be used in a variety of ways and does not need to be heated before using, which makes it pretty easy to work with. Here are just some of the ways you can use it in your own home:
• Stir into warm pasta and grains (one jar to one 16-ounce box of pasta)
• Spread onto sandwiches or toast
• Marinate meats and vegetables
• Dip for veggies and pita chips
Every year we grow basil in our garden and I am always curious about different ways we can use it. So this pesto was a nice way to supplement our homegrown garden basil, too.
Rigatoni and Sausage with Barilla Creamy Genovese Pesto
This was a great weeknight dinner- quick to prepare and easy to clean up. My family of three had leftovers for the next day, too! It reheated nicely for lunch. If you're not a fan of sausage you can actually omit it entirely and still have a yummy meal.
Ingredients
1 box Barilla® Rigatoni
1 jar Barilla® Creamy Genovese Pesto
1 lb. sweet Italian sausage, ground and cooked
parmesan cheese, grated (to taste)
sweet basil leaves (for garnish)
Allergen info for Barilla Creamy Genovese Pesto: contains Tree Nuts, Eggs, Milk, Cashews
Free From: Peanuts, Fish, Mollusks, Crustacean, Soy, Wheat
Directions
1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook rigatoni pasta according to package directions.
2. Place pesto in a large bowl, stir in ½-cup pasta cooking water.
3. Cook ground sausage in skillet over high heat until no longer pink. Drain and set aside.
4. Drain pasta (use a 1/2 cup of this water for your pesto) and then toss with pesto and sausage.
5. Garnish with basil leaves and parmesan cheese, if desired.
*Note that you can actually use less than the full jar if you prefer a milder flavor!
*You can substitute other pasta for this recipe- try penne or ziti. You can also exchange the sausage for ground beef or omit meat entirely.
Makes 8 servings
For another recipe using Barilla Creamy Genovese Pesto, check out this Pesto Presto! fusilli dish from my friend, Kid Congeniality!
