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Penne with Tomato Pesto and Smoked Mozzarella

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Penne with Tomato Pesto and Smoked Mozzarella Con Poulos

Tomatoes keep the fulfilling umami coming. We added almonds to up the slim-down factor: Dieters who ate the nuts daily lost 56 percent more fat than those who didn't, a study from Loma Linda University finds; the nuts' fiber may prevent fat absorption.

Ingredients

Makes 4 servings

1/4 cup almonds
2 cups loosely packed fresh parsley
12 sun-dried tomato halves
2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 pound smoked mozzarella, diced
1/2 pound whole-wheat penne
  1. In a small pan over medium heat, toast almonds until golden brown, 5 minutes. In a food processor, pulse almonds, parsley, tomatoes, garlic and oil until slightly chunky. Pour into a bowl; season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add mozzarella; toss to combine. Cook pasta as directed on package; drain and toss immediately with pesto.

Nutrition Per Serving

Per serving: 401 calories
18 g fat
5 g saturated
49 g carbohydrates
8 g fiber
16 g protein
#### Nutritional analysis provided by Self
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How would you rate Penne with Tomato Pesto and Smoked Mozzarella?

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  • The smoked mozzarella was not a good idea. it interferes with the pesto and made the whole thing taste rather strange. I'd recommend using plain mozarella.

    • geomblog

    • 12/23/2013

  • I used Cilantro and basil instead of parsley. It gave a nice flavor, added a little more olive oil. Will definatly make it again!

    • JessBurmeister

    • 9/11/2012

  • This was delicious. Adding a smoked cheese is a must for its unique flavor. If you can't find smoked mozz, use smoked gouda. I also added roasted chicken for some protein.

    • peggyl

    • minneapolis mn

    • 9/7/2012

  • I added some leftover shredded chicken to the penne and added some olives to the pesto. I also substituted the mozzarella for tasty cheddar cheese. The end result was very tasty an easy quick meal

    • Invervagas

    • New Zealand

    • 9/3/2012

  • This was the recipe of the day on Aug 31, 2012. I made it for my gf, who was allergic to the tomatoes and almonds. I substituted hazelnuts for the almonds, and should have substituted something for the tomatoes, because you could tell something flavorful was missing. ***** I had trouble finding the smoked mozzarella, but it should be there in the gourmet cheese section if your grocer has one. ***** I had to use a large tupperware container to transport it (couldn't fit in microwave.) ***** Overall, it was good, and I'd make it again.

    • PensivePebble

    • San Francisco, CA

    • 9/2/2012

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