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Asparagus and Halloumi Pasta with Smoky Tomato Pesto

Asparagus and halloumi pasta with an unbelievably delicious smoky tomato pesto, made with Greek yogurt so it's extra creamy!
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 3
Calories: 482kcal
Author: Becca Heyes

Recipe printed from www.easycheesyvegetarian.com

Ingredients

  • 1 small clove garlic
  • Small bunch fresh herbs (I used basil and parsley)
  • 1 tbsp pine nuts
  • 5 pieces sun-dried tomato
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 2 tbsp Greek yogurt
  • Salt
  • Black pepper
  • 125 g halloumi, diced (~ 1 cup diced)
  • 6 spears asparagus
  • 1 small courgette (zucchini)
  • 300 g fresh pasta (~ 3 cups)
  • Fresh rocket (arugula), optional, to serve

Instructions

  • To make the smoky tomato pesto, add the small clove of garlic to a mini food processor with the fresh herbs and pine nuts. Blitz until finely chopped. Add the sun-dried tomatoes and smoked paprika, and blitz again. Finally, add the Greek yogurt and plenty of salt and pepper, and blitz to combine.
  • Add the diced halloumi to a dry frying pan, and cook over a medium heat for a few minutes, until the underside is crispy and golden brown. Turn the halloumi pieces over, and repeat with the other side.
  • While the halloumi is cooking, cut the asparagus into 2 inch pieces, and shave ribbons from the courgette using a vegetable peeler. When the halloumi is fairly crispy, add the vegetables to the frying pan, and cook for a few minutes, tossing regularly, until the vegetables are tender.
  • Boil the fresh pasta according to the instructions on the packet (usually around 3-8 minutes), until cooked al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving a few tablespoons of the cooking liquid.
  • Add the smoky tomato pesto and the cooked vegetables and halloumi to the pasta, and mix well. You may wish to add a couple of tablespoons of the pasta cooking water to loosen up the sauce a little. Cook over a low heat for a couple of minutes, until warm. Serve garnished with some fresh rocket (arugula) if desired.

Notes

You can use shop-bought tomato pesto to make this recipe quicker, if you like.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Asparagus and Halloumi Pasta with Smoky Tomato Pesto
Amount Per Serving (1 portion)
Calories 482 Calories from Fat 157
% Daily Value*
Fat 17.4g27%
Saturated Fat 8.6g43%
Cholesterol 98mg33%
Sodium 308mg13%
Potassium 688mg20%
Carbohydrates 59.9g20%
Fiber 2.5g10%
Sugar 3.5g4%
Protein 23.3g47%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutritional information is approximate, and will depend on your exact ingredients. Please calculate your own nutritional values if you require accuracy for health reasons.