Review of Dinnerly's Spinach Pesto Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes
Review Summary
Dinnerly took a simpler "deconstructed" take on pesto with this recipe, and ended up with a pretty tasty meal that you can easily put together in less than 30 minutes.
The biggest short-cut in this "pesto" recipe is actually not making a pesto at all. Typically, you'd pull out the blender and combine ingredients into a smooth sauce - the pesto. In this version, Dinnerly has you using the same ingredients separately added to pasta. Still a tasty option, but if you're expecting a traditional Pesto - this is not it.
I did like the flavors in the dish. The roasted tomatoes provide a slightly sweet, acidic sauce for the pasta, along with the olive oil and parmesan cheese. I love spinach, and slightly wilted, it's great in this dish. I didn't think the chopped almonds had much flavor....but did give the pasta a nice texture component.
Overall, the flavor was good, but not a big bunch like traditional pestos, and probably would have been helped with a bit more parmesan cheese, some red pepper flakes or some other component to add a bit more complexity.
It took me about 25 minutes to cook the recipe (while also filming) so I think you can get it done very quickly. And the directions on the recipe card were clear and easy to follow.
Overall I was happy with dish. It's kid and adult friendly, and would be an easy after-work, home cooked meal. And at just $5 per serving, it's pretty easy on the wallet as well.
Ingredients
The Dinnerly box came packed with ingredients for three recipes. You need to sort out the ingredients by recipe, but that takes about 30 seconds. Everything that came was in good shape and all the fresh ingredients were good quality - as good as I'd get at the grocery store. The finished portion size was reasonable, although I wish I had a bit more parmesan cheese to help boost the flavors.
For the Spinach Pesto with Roasted Tomato recipe, Dinnerly includes the following:
- Plum tomatoes
- Salted almonds
- Garlic
- Parmesan
- Rigatoni
- Baby spinach
As I said above, everything that came was in really good shape. To the shipped ingredients, you'll need to get salt, pepper and olive oil from your own pantry.
Making the dish
The fact that we're not making a traditional pesto, makes this dish really easy and fast to make. There are not a lot of "tricks" you have to be careful of. Use high heat to roast the tomato (hopefully getting some caramelization). Most importantly, just don't over cook the pasta. Start tasting it a minute or two before the directions suggest, just to make sure you take it out al dente.
Dinnerly breaks the cooking down into five steps:
- Prep the ingredients: Here you get a pot of water on the heat for the rigatoni. Dice the tomatoes and garlic. Grate the parmesan cheese, and finely chop the almonds.
- Cook the pasta: Is self-explanatory. You do want to reserve some pasta water before you drain, which you can use to thin the sauce if needed.
- Broil the tomatoes: In this step you season the tomatoes, add some olive oil and get them under the broiler. As they heat, water evaporates, concentrating flavor. And the sugars start to caramelize creating more flavor/complexity. I'd suggest going a bit longer than the directions, and getting the tomatoes pretty well browned.
- Wilt Spinach: You put the spinach, together with the tomatoes and garlic back in the saucepan with the pasta. This is the base of the dish, and in just a few minutes the spinach will wilt down.
- Finish the pasta: Finally, you wrap everything up by adding the parmesan cheese and the almonds. If needed, you can add some reserved pasta water. Most importantly, you need to taste the pasta and add salt and pepper if needed; and they also suggest (and I agree) adding a drizzle of olive oil. These last few steps are really critical to bringing out the flavor in this simple dish.
The directions are simple to follow and there are not many steps. I would have liked a bit more flavor in the dish, and when I make it again, would probably add a bit of fresh lemon juice, some red pepper flakes and a bit more parmesan cheese.
I found the portions where fairly generous and there was plenty of food for two people.
Taste
The flavors on this dish were mild but good. It's a simple dish without a ton of ingredients, so it's really about perfectly cooked pasta, lightly dressed, and well seasoned. You need to make sure the rigatoni doesn't get mushy or soft on you.
I didn't think the almonds added a ton to the dish, other than a bit of a texture component.
I would have a liked to see a little bit more garlic and/or parmesan cheese, both have big flavors and would have added more punch to the dish. If you have the time, and can oven-roast the tomatoes for longer, that would concentrate their flavor and make for a richer finished recipe. Dinnerly could also add some sun dried tomatoes to the kit vs the fresh.
Finally, a bit of acid is a very common trick to add some complexity and flavor to a pasta dish. A light squeeze of fresh lemon juice at the very end of the cooking would have brightened everything up quite a bit.
Dinnerly's Spinach Pesto Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes
Overall
Like everything I have tried (and read about) from Dinnerly, their Spinach Pesto Pasta fits right in the wheelhouse, of simple, un-fussy and fast.
I had this recipe made in less than 30 minutes and with a bit of practice (and no filming) I could probably do it about 20.
Like all simple pasta dishes, it's critical to cook the rigatoni al dente, so don't walk away and forget it. Once put together, I liked the flavor, but did wish for a bit more punch. Fortunately, it's easy to add a bit more flavor with ingredients you probably have on hand. The portion sizes where good.
This is a very family friendly recipe. I think just about anyone's going to like it. And at Dinnerly's price ($5/serving) it's as cheap at fast food.
Give it a try and let me know how it goes. And if you're interested in Dinnerly, just use the link below.
Comments (2403 )
social media agency hamburg Cool stuff you have and you keep overhaul every one of us
hi, your website is really good. I truly do appreciate your give good results vaishno devi helicopter
kattunge i hemmet… [...]s Not every blog has got the facts right but this one seems to have managed t qq[...]… vaishno devi helicopter
Now we know who the ssebnile one is here. Great post! vaishno devi helicopter
Regards for this post, I am a big big fan of this site would like to go on updated. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u51Sm74N_xw">fitspresso reviews</a>
When I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new surveys are added- checkbox and from now on every time a comment is added I am four emails using the same comment. Is there however it is possible to eliminate me from that service? Thanks! 3-CEC
Despite these challenges, news continues to serve as a vital tool for holding power to account. Investigative journalism, in particular, plays a key role in uncovering corruption, human rights abuses, and other forms of wrongdoing. This type of reporting requires time, resources, and often comes with significant risk. Yet it remains an essential function of the press, demonstrating that the news media can still serve the public interest, even in a rapidly changing environment.
Play 5000+ games and bet on live sports at Chipstars with Bitcoin, Ethereum, and more. Enjoy fast payouts, provably fair games, and exclusive crypto offers. provably fair games
Explore various massage options on 오피. The site offers detailed listings and user feedback to help you find a service that fits your preferences.
Sorry for that large evaluation, but I am truly caring the brand new Microsoft zune, and hope this, as well as the exceptional reviews some other men and women wrote, will help you determine if it is the proper choice for you. weed in belfast
Locate which will article writing is not actually valued at the time period, you might recognise that discovering them free of charge is really a lot a great deal more an individual’s idea! Precisely why craft content articles together with throw away your time and energy when you are able become terrific content absolutely free! A lot of people discover utilizing just a dash of effort paid out diving the web page and looking at what’s going on they is able to leave and reveal a whole lot of function done with the particular means available. elettricista rapido Milano
iptv provider iptv provider Water quality standards are established guidelines that define acceptable levels of various parameters in water for different uses, such as drinking, recreation, and aquatic life support. These standards help ensure the protection of public health and the environment by setting clear benchmarks for water quality management and regulation.
I really enjoyed reading this site, this is great blog. <a href="https://www.cutekiddy.com/">zeus</a>
I agree with most of your points, but a few need to be discussed further, I will hold a small talk with my partners and maybe I will look for you some suggestion soon. <a href="https://www.cutekiddy.com/">zeus</a>
I agree with most of your points, but a few need to be discussed further, I will hold a small talk with my partners and maybe I will look for you some suggestion soon. <a href="https://www.solarfun-power.com/">Tokek88 Slot</a>
I really enjoyed reading this site, this is great blog. <a href="https://www.solarfun-power.com/">Situs Tokek155</a>
iptv streaming I will really appreciate the writer's choice for choosing this excellent article appropriate to my matter.Here is deep description about the article matter which helped me more.
I’ve been using a few different trading algorithms for my forex trading, and the results have been impressive. The best part is how they automate my trades and minimize emotional decisions. Looking for recommendations on the best algorithmic trading and investment software out there. Has anyone had success with a particular algorithmic trading bot? Also, are there any notable algorithmic trading companies to keep an eye on?
I’m interested in using some of your material for my website. Please let me know if that’s OK and I will link back to this page. Abogado penalista
Thank you, I’ve just been searching for info about this subject for a long time and yours is the best I have discovered till now. But, what in regards to the conclusion? Are you positive about the source? Nitric Boost Ultra
I agree with most of your points, but a few need to be discussed further, I will hold a small talk with my partners and maybe I will look for you some suggestion soon. Nitric Boost Ultra
I agree with most of your points, but a few need to be discussed further, I will hold a small talk with my partners and maybe I will look for you some suggestion soon. Nitric Boost Ultra
Cheers for this material I has been browsing all Msn in order to find it! trail boss powder
I agree with most of your points, but a few need to be discussed further, I will hold a small talk with my partners and maybe I will look for you some suggestion soon. Sumatra Slim Belly Tonic Review
I really enjoyed reading this site, this is great blog. Sumatra Slim Belly Tonic Review
I’m curious to find out what blog system you happen to be working with? I’m having some minor security problems with my latest site and I would like to find something more risk-free. Do you have any solutions? Neiro
Excellent post. I was reviewing this blog continuously, and I am impressed! Extremely helpful information especially this page. Thank you and good luck. <a href="https://bet1vip.app">بازی شرط بندی پولی فوتبال</a>
we take sports predictions to the next level by using AI and machine learning to analyze every aspect of a game. Our models consider everything from player performance to team dynamics, giving you highly accurate predictions. And because our system is always learning, the predictions only get better. nfl picks
Anti-hair loss Water quality monitoring involves regularly assessing the condition of water sources by analyzing various parameters such as pH, dissolved oxygen, and pollutant levels. It helps identify trends, detect pollution events, and assess the effectiveness of management measures, ultimately ensuring the protection of water resources and public health.
Overall, politicians are split on the issue of whether Twitter is more for business or personal use. The first thing is the fact that you can build up quite a large following of people. Bolagila
Sweet blog! I found it while browsing on Yahoo News. Do you have any suggestions on how to get listed in Yahoo News? I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there! Thank you Fahrzeugvermietung in Caleta de Fuste
Hair Expert We are really grateful for your blog post. You will find a lot of approaches after visiting your post. Great work
You have made an awesome showing on this article. It"s extremely lucid and profoundly smart. You have even figured out how to make it justifiable and simple to peruse. You have some genuine written work ability. Much obliged to you. Software y derechos de autor en las palmas
I want to start a blog but would like to own the domain. Any ideas how to go about this?. Java Burn Reviews
Thank you for your very good information and respond to you. used car san jose Java Burn Reviews
And Im running from a standard users account with strict limitations, which I think may be the limiting factor, but Im running the cmd as the system I am currently working on. Java Burn Reviews
Totally awesome posting! Heaps of helpful data and motivation, both of which we all need!Relay welcome your work. Tonic Greens
Totally awesome posting! Heaps of helpful data and motivation, both of which we all need!Relay welcome your work. Dentavim Reviews
Much thanks to you so much Love your web journal.. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbaD1WcI0ME">Tonic Greens</a>
Much thanks to you so much Love your web journal.. Dentavim Reviews
It turned out to be Very useful to me and I am certain to every one of the observers here! Tonic Greens
It turned out to be Very useful to me and I am certain to every one of the observers here! Dentavim Reviews
I found so many interesting stuff in your blog!! especially its discussionLaugh ing From the tons of comments on your articlesSmile I guess I am not the only one having all the enjoyment hereSmile Keep up the excellent work!! VS Textiles Printed & Embroidered Lawn
hello there and thank you for your information – I’ve certainly picked up something new from right here. I did however expertise several technical issues using this web site, as I experienced to reload the web site a lot of times previous to I could get it to load properly. I had been wondering if your web hosting is OK? Not that I’m complaining, but slow loading instances times will often affect your placement in google and can damage your high quality score if ads and marketing with Adwords. Well I am adding this RSS to my e-mail and can look out for a lot more of your respective intriguing content. Make sure you update this again soon.. electroslim
hello there and thank you for your information – I’ve certainly picked up something new from right here. I did however expertise several technical issues using this web site, as I experienced to reload the web site a lot of times previous to I could get it to load properly. I had been wondering if your web hosting is OK? Not that I’m complaining, but slow loading instances times will often affect your placement in google and can damage your high quality score if ads and marketing with Adwords. Well I am adding this RSS to my e-mail and can look out for a lot more of your respective intriguing content. Make sure you update this again soon.. electroslim
I am glad to be a visitor of this thoroughgoing website ! , appreciate it for this rare info ! . Agencia de publicidad en las palmas
Someone essentially lend a hand to make critically articles I’d state. That is the first time I frequented your website page and so far? I amazed with the research you made to create this actual post extraordinary. Wonderful activity! Agencia de publicidad en las palmas
Sweet blog! I found it while browsing on Yahoo News. Do you have any suggestions on how to get listed in Yahoo News? I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there! Thank you Gestión de redes sociales en las palmas
Your one-stop shop for premium vaping gear in Germany! Explore our wide array of e-zigaretten and vapes, ensuring you find the perfect device to match your needs. vapme shisha pro max
Fabulous online journal you have here. You'll find me taking a gander at your stuff regularly. Spared! <a href="https://ambgold.fun/">ambgold</a>