Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta

Backcountry Foodie Recipe

This is another recipe that you might consider keeping on hand at home for those evenings when you're looking for a quick and nutritious meal.

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NUTRITION (per serving)

cal/oz 138

cal/gram 4.9

Calories 594 kcal

PROTEIN 17 g

CARBOHYDRATE 51 g

Fiber 6 g

Added Sugar 0 g

Total Fat 38 g

Saturated Fat 7 g

Cholesterol 15 mg

Sodium 728 mg

Home Prep Time 4

Field Prep Time 5

WT/SERVING 4.3 oz (120 g)

MEAL PREPCold Soak, Cook, Dehydrator Not Required

Diet TYPESDairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Heart-Healthy, Low-Sugar, Soy-Free, Vegan, Vegetarian

Servings1 serving

INGREDIENTS

⅔ cup (52 g) penne pasta, mini, measured after precooking and dehyrating
2 piece (10 g) sun-dried tomatoes, oil-free, diced
1 Tbsp (8 g) pine nuts
2 tsp (1.4 g) basil, dried
¼ tsp (0.8 g) garlic powder
⅛ tsp (0.8 g) table salt
2 Tbsp (15 g) parmesan cheese, grated, 2 Tbsp = 4 x 3.5 g packets
2 Tbsp (28 g) olive oil
8 oz (240 mL) water

OPTIONAL

⅔ cup (52 g) ziti, precooked and dehydrated (substitution), Instant product available from Outdoor Herbivore
⅔ cup (60 g) chickpea pasta, precooked and dehydrated (substitution), gluten-free option
salt substitute (substitution), reduced-sodium option
2 Tbsp (14 g) cashew cheese, grated (substitution), vegan, heart-healthy option

INSTRUCTIONS (per serving)

HOME

Put noodles and diced tomatoes in a bag or container to be used in the backcountry. Kitchen scissors work well for dicing tomatoes.
Put the remaining dry ingredients in a separate bag or container to be stored with the noodles. See meal prep tips below.
Pack 2 Tbsp (28 g) olive oil in a leakproof container to be added when the meal is consumed. We recommend double bagging the oil in the event there is a leak.

FIELD

Remove the pesto packet from the noodle bag or container.
Add 8 oz (240 mL) hot or cold water or enough to cover the noodles.
Let stand until noodles are fully rehydrated. This will take approximately 5 minutes with hot water or 60 minutes with cold water.
Consume or properly discard the noodle broth to follow the Leave No Trace principle.
Add pesto packet and 2 Tbsp (28 g) olive oil to the noodles.
Stir to mix well and enjoy!

NOTES

MEAL PREP TIPS

Noodles do not have to be precooked and dehydrated if you are willing to cook noodles on the trail.
If preparing the meal for long-term storage, we recommend packing the parmesan cheese in a separate container just before leaving for the trip. This will greatly lengthen the shelf-life of the meal. Single-serving packets, such as those used by pizza restaurants, also work well. 2 x 3.5 g packets = ~1 Tbsp
Grated cashew cheese, however, does not require refrigeration and can be added to the meal at home without concern for a shortened shelf-life.

NUTRITION

Total sugar (per serving): 5 g with no added sugar
For a reduced-sodium, heart-healthy recipe, replace table salt with a salt substitute as desired.
To reduce calories by 120, reduce the olive oil volume by 1 Tbsp (14 g). We do not recommend omitting all of the oil, as the oil is needed to create a pesto sauce.

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