Fans of aubergine will adore this super easy pesto pasta recipe from Gennaro Contaldo for Bertolli. His delicious take on the traditional North Italian sauce makes a welcome change from the usual scoop of basil pesto out of jar hastily stirred into pasta on a weeknight!

Sponsored Post: Bertolli recipe by Gennaro Contaldo, photography by Katie Bryson
I’m all too guilty of cooking pasta in a rush for the kids and not thinking too hard about the sauce. Making Gennaro’s recipe was a genuine pleasure and really makes the most of the ingredients and flavours. You roast the aubergines in the oven and then scoop out the flesh and mix it with torn fresh basil, crushed almonds, cheese and fresh vine tomatoes. It’s very simple to make and doesn’t involve any complicated cooking methods.
I adore rustic-style Italian cooking that only uses a handful of ingredients but with luxurious results. This felt like such a treat on a Wednesday evening, served up with garlic bread and some salad leaves on the side.
You can find the recipe for Aubergine Pesto Pasta on Bertolli’s website, I love Gennaro’s flamboyant Italian manner, so his recipe videos are definitely worth a watch. Plus there are loads more pasta and risotto recipes on Bertolli’s site if you’re on the look out for some inspiration!
Disclosure: Sponsored Post – I have been commissioned to cook, photograph and write about this recipe by Bertolli
What a stunning dish and lovely photos! Love the look of the recipe, will definitely give this a try!
Mmm aubergine pesto sounds delicious! I love anything with aubergines 😀
Love the sound of this recipe, roasting aubergine and serving with pasta is not something I’ve ever done before but really want to try this now:-)
I’m loving the combination of aubergine in the pasta here, I never think to mix the two but bet it’s awesome. Definitely going to try this one.
I did a class with Gennaro and Bertolli ages ago and we had such good food. Classic Italian – quality ingredients simply cooked.
Oooh lucky you Helen!
Oh I love quick, hearty pasta recipes like this! And Gennaro is one of a kind – God bless the Italians! 😉
I love how enthusiastic Italians are about their food.. it’s definitely infectious!
This looks wonderful and definitely reminds me of something you’d get in a rustic Italian restaurant x
Thanks Sam… yes it feels very authentic!
Looks good Katie, I’ll have to give that a go.
Really simple and very tasty!
I don’t think aubergine features nearly enough in recipes. Yay for this fab looking pasta dish!
It’s a truly underrated veg!
I love Gennaro so I’ll have to try this aubergine pesto pasta. I like that he’s used almonds in it. Yum! Great photos
Thanks Kate, it’s a lovely recipe from Gennaro!
I knwo what you mean about rush cooking without thinking too much about things. I need to change that and this Aubergine pesto pasta seems like a great place to start.
It’s good to slow down in the kitchen and take your time every now and again!