Fresh, vibrant tomato pesto with basil and mozzarella cheese gives Barilla Better For You Pasta a healthy and flavorful sauce.

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and Barilla, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #betterforyou http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO

How many of you are committed to a healthy lifestyle? If you’re anything like me, you have the desire but then time gets the best of you. Some of you might be parents. Some of you might be working full time. I am a full time videographer, part time blogger, and working on a side project. My time is very limited and as a result, I don’t always make the healthiest choices, including what I eat. After a long day of work, I’m exhausted and don’t want to spend more than an hour on dinner. The one meal I make (too) often is pasta. Boil water, cook pasta, toss with sauce, done. Did you know that Barilla whole grain pasta contains three times the fiber of regular pasta? Today I teamed up with Barilla Pasta to show you that living a healthier lifestyle can be as simple as switching your pasta and pairing it with vitamin-packed Caprese Pesto.

Made with 51% whole wheat, Barilla Better For You Pasta is a great healthier option for meals, whether you are cooking for one (like me!) or have the whole family at the table. Barilla has four varieties to choose from: whole grain, white fiber, veggie, and plus. All can be found in a blue box except for Plus, which is in a yellow box. I chose to cook with whole grain medium shells I bought at my local Giant because let’s face it – shells are more fun than spaghetti.

Now let’s talk about the pesto. What is caprese? Caprese is a traditional Italian salad of fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil. I decided to make a tomato pesto then add basil and fresh mozzarella chunks into the mix. The best part is you throw it all into a food processor (or blender) and have sauce ready in less than five minutes! One shortcut I did take is using canned tomatoes instead of peeling, seeding, and chopping fresh, which also means that you can make this pesto all year long. Can you imagine the brightness this would bring in the middle of winter?

The Caprese Pesto also makes a great spread for bruschetta, which are small pieces of bread brushed with olive oil and toasted for about five minutes. I purposely made a double batch of pesto just to have some leftover. Yes, it was that good.

As you can see, making healthier choices is more than just exercising; it’s about what we eat. Incorporating fresh produce. Making sauce from scratch. Eating whole grain pasta instead of regular. No need to spend hours in a kitchen; sometimes choosing healthier ingredients is all you need. Next time you buy pasta, reach for whole grain instead.

Looking for more recipes using Barilla Better For You Pasta? Be sure to like Barilla on Facebook, follow on Twitter, and follow on Pinterest.

Caprese Pesto with Pasta

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

This recipe makes roughly 1 1/2 cups of pesto. In addition to pasta sauce, caprese pesto can be served on bruschetta.

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Ingredients

• 3 cups whole grain pasta, any shape
• 2 cups chopped tomatoes, fresh or canned
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled
• 15-20 basil leaves
• 1/2 cup fresh mozzarella, chopped into pieces
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook pasta as directed on the box.
3. Meanwhile, in a food processor or blender, combine the tomatoes, garlic, basil, mozzarella, olive oil, vinegar, and salt (to taste). Puree for a good 2-3 minutes or until completely smooth. Toss with pasta when ready.

 
Source: Adapted from Michael Chiarello
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If you liked my Caprese Pesto, you may also like these recipes:

• Quick and Fresh Basil Tomato Sauce
• Garden Salsa (can be used as a quick pasta sauce!)
• Simple Olive Oil Pasta