Pesto Pasta Wreath Recipe – Giadzy

Name: Pesto Pasta Wreath
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 1 batch Giada’s pesto alla genovese, or roughly 1 cup store-bought pesto; 1 pound short pasta, such as orecchiette; Kosher salt, for the pasta water; ½ cup mozzarella pearls; 1 14-ounce can yellow datterini tomatoes, drained; 1 14-ounce can red datterini tomatoes, drained; Basil sprig, for garnishing

For the holidays, we love a simple way to take an easy dish and present it in a festive fashion. This pesto pasta is the ultimate crowd-pleaser, and it’s incredibly simple to make. Start with Giada’s classic pesto recipe (which you can make a day or two ahead of time!) and toss with pasta, and assemble into the shape of a wreath. Decorate with an assortment of tomatoes and mozzarella pearls, and you have an adorably festive pasta that tastes just as good as it looks.

Pesto Pasta Wreath

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Servings

Prep Time

25 minutes

Cook Time

10 minutes

Ingredients

1 batch Giada’s pesto alla genovese, or roughly 1 cup store-bought pesto
1 pound short pasta, such as orecchiette

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Kosher salt, for the pasta water
½ cup mozzarella pearls
1 14-ounce can yellow datterini tomatoes, drained

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1 14-ounce can red datterini tomatoes, drained

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Basil sprig, for garnishing

Instructions

Place the prepared pesto in a large mixing bowl.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Season generously with salt. Add the pasta to the water and cook until al dente, according to package instructions. Using a pasta spider, remove the pasta directly from the water to the pesto. Toss well to coat, adding pasta water as needed to create a light sauce that clings to the pasta.
Prepare a large circular platter or large shallow bowl, and place a very small bowl or glass upside-down in the center of the platter. Spoon the pasta evenly on the platter around the small bowl. Carefully remove the small bowl so you have an empty space in the center of the platter.
Decorate the pasta with the mozzarella pearls along with the yellow and red tomatoes. Place a basil sprig at the “top” of the wreath to resemble a bow. Serve warm or room-temperature.