Fast-roasted cherry tomatoes and zucchini tossed with cannellini beans, penne pasta and pesto sauce. This dish can be served hot as a main meal, or cold as a pasta salad.

(Read the related blog post.)

20 cherry tomatoes

1 zucchini (courgette)—sliced on diagonal

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

8 oz (240g) penne pasta

1 cup canned cannellini beans—rinsed and drained

2/3 cup good-quality pesto (store-bought or homemade)

PREHEAT the oven to 450F/230C. PLACE the cherry tomatoes and sliced zucchini in a baking dish and toss with the olive oil. COOK in the oven for 12 minutes. WHILE the vegetables roast, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package directions, adding the drained white beans in the final minute to heat through. DRAIN the pasta and beans reserving 2 tablespoons of the cooking water, and toss gently with the pesto and oven-roasted vegetables until well combined.

Variations: Use fresh asparagus instead of the zucchini. Replace the cannellini beans with shredded pre-cooked chicken breast.

Fast-Roasted Vegetable Pasta. A colorful mix of vegetables are fast-roasted until sweet and tender, then tossed with freshly cooked fettuccine and sprinkled with Parmesan cheese.   Sun-dried Tomato & Walnut Pesto Pasta with Salmon & Asparagus. Fresh salmon pieces, asparagus and red pepper tossed with pasta and a sun-dried tomato and walnut pesto.   Tuscan White Bean & Garlic Soup. A thick and warming Tuscan soup made with white beans and poached garlic.

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