For a pasta night for picky eaters that doesn’t fall back on the usual buttered noodles or spaghetti and meatballs, here’s a dead-easy pesto for kids rich in protein and fiber but decidedly not green–so much so that your child will have to squint very hard to discern it’s not just jarred tomato sauce. Based on the Sicilian pesto alla trapanese, but simplified for kids, it does everything a pesto should, just in a nice pinkish-red patina that small children can get with.Â
Ingredients Overview
- Roasted Almonds: Provides the essential nutty foundation for this pesto alla trapanese blend. Grinding them finely creates a subtle, sandy texture that blends seamlessly into noodles without introducing large, hard chunks that might turn off young eaters.
- Tomatoes: Sweet, ripe tomatoes replace the heavy basil volume of traditional green pestos, giving this sauce its inviting pinkish-red color and natural sweetness.
- Basil Leaves: A light hand with fresh basil keeps the herb flavor mild and gentle while keeping the sauce visually non-green.
- Garlic: Adds a warm, savory base. Using minced garlic ensures it distributes evenly when pulsed.
- Olive Oil: Emulsifies the ground nuts and tomatoes into a smooth, pourable sauce as it drizzles into the blender.
- Parmesan Cheese: Adds natural saltiness and umami, helping bind the pesto sauce together.
- Pasta: Spiral or corkscrew shapes like rotini or fusilli are ideal because their grooves capture and hold onto the sauce bits.
Steps Summary
- Pulse the Base: Grind the roasted almonds in a blender or food processor until finely textured like coarse sand, scraping down the sides as needed.
- Blend the Sauce: Add the tomatoes, basil, garlic, and parmesan, pulsing 5 to 6 times to leave the sauce slightly textured.
- Emulsify: With the blender running on its lowest setting, slowly stream in the olive oil until a smooth, cohesive pesto for kids is formed.
- Toss and Serve: Mix the sauce directly into warm, cooked noodles off the heat so the fresh tomato and cheese flavors stay bright.
FAQ
Why is this pesto red instead of green?
This recipe is a kid-friendly adaptation of Sicilian pesto alla trapanese, which relies on fresh tomatoes and almonds rather than a massive amount of basil. The resulting pinkish-red shade looks familiar to toddlers accustomed to standard marinara.
Can I substitute the almonds with another nut?
Yes. Pine nuts or raw cashews work great in this pesto for kids. If you need a nut-free alternative for daycare or school lunches, roasted sunflower seeds make a delicious substitute.
How do I store leftover pesto sauce?
Store any unused pesto in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can also freeze it in small ice cube trays for quick, portion-sized toddler meals later on.
Can I add more vegetables to the sauce?
Absolutely. You can easily blend in a bit of steamed carrots or roasted red bell peppers without altering the red color or pleasing flavor profile of this pesto for kids.
What is the best way to reheat pasta tossed in this sauce?
Reheat gently on the stove over low heat or in short 15-second bursts in the microwave, adding a splash of water or olive oil to keep the nut emulsion smooth.
Recipe Links
What to Serve With Pesto for Kids
Chicken Piccata For Kids — Golden pan-seared chicken tenderloins in a mild, lemony pan sauce make a fantastic protein pairing alongside red pesto pasta.
Homemade Chicken Tenders — An easy chicken side that also happens to taste even better when dipped into the pesto for kids sauce.
Cheesy Cauliflower Mash — An ultra-creamy, vegetable-packed side dish that rounds out a comfort-food dinner plate.
More Toddler Recipes Like This
- Creamy Mashed Pea Pasta — Another quick, pantry-staple noodle dish designed to make fresh green vegetables approachable for picky toddlers.
- Pasta Carbonara For Kids — A toddler-friendly take on an Italian pasta staple that turns simple kitchen staples into a comforting weeknight meal.
- The Best Tomato Sauce For Kids — If the pesto doesn’t doo it for them, try this classic Italian red sauce that kids will love.
Check out all our great toddler pasta recipes for kids!
Easy Pesto For Kids (and not green!)
Description
A kid-friendly spin on Sicilian pesto alla trapanaese, this red pesto for kids combines sweet fresh tomatoes, roasted almonds, and parmesan. It offers all the nuttiness of traditional pesto in a mild, pinkish sauce picky eaters will love.
Ingredients
Instructions
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In a food processor or blender, grind the almonds down until the texture is that of sand. Scrape down the sides.
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Add in the tomatoes, basil leaves, garlic, and cheese, then pulse 5-6 times until the mixture is blended but chunky. (Note: if using unsalted almonds, add a pinch of salt at this stage.)
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Turn blender on at its lowest setting, then drizzle in the olive oil.
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When serving over pasta, mix into your noodles off heat and/or after the pasta has been drained and has had a chance to cool down for a few minutes.
Serve
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Three or four spoonfuls of the pesto and a bit more grated cheese is pretty much all you need for the pasta, though you can also put a dollop or two over the top of a plain bowl of noodles and let your child figure out. Our natural companion for this are floured and pan fried chicken breasts, which we top with the pesto.Â
Adapt
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You can dial up or back both the tomato and basil proportions; cashews or pine nuts–the typical nut used in pesto–can be used instead of cashews. If you want to increase the cheese content, try spooning/stirring in extra after blending.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 6
Serving Size small bowl of pasta and sauce
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 298kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 18.5g29%
- Potassium 215mg7%
- Total Carbohydrate 27g9%
- Dietary Fiber 2.8g12%
- Sugars 2g
- Protein 8.2g17%
- Iron 1.4 mg
- Vitamin D 0.1 mcg
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
