Bright Cilantro Pesto Bowties
Bright Cilantro Pesto Bowties pairs herbaceous cilantro with toasty nuts, sharp Parmesan, and a hint of heat from cayenne for a vibrant, fresh bite. The vinegar adds a gentle tang that lifts the sauce, coating farfalle with a silky, aromatic finish. Serve for a lively weeknight dinner or a crowd-pleasing potluck pasta.
- Prep15 mins
- Cook15 mins
- Serves8
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Bright Cilantro Pesto Bowties, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 55 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 12 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityPoor
- 20 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 61
- Heart Health
- 69
- Metabolic
- 32
- Digestive
- 39
- Inflammatory
- 26
- Performance
- 27
- General Wellness
- 1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta in the boiling water until slightly firm, 8 to 10 minutes; drain well.
- 2
Blend the cilantro, nuts, Parmesan, garlic, vinegar, cayenne pepper, and salt in a food processor or blender. Add 1/4 cup olive oil and blend until combined. Add the remaining olive oil until the pesto reaches your preferred consistency.
- 3
Transfer the pesto to a small saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until it is warmed and starts to simmer. Pour it over the cooked pasta and toss to coat.
- Calories 385.33 kcal Moderate 19%
- Protein 10.67 g Good Source 21%
- Carbohydrate 44.18 g 16%
- Total Fat 20.21 g High 26%
- Saturated Fat 2.7 g Moderate 14%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 2.79 mg Low Source 1%
- Sodium 47.3 mg Low Source 2%
- Dietary Fiber 3.95 g Moderate 14%
- Total Sugars 1.21 g --
- Added Sugars 0.01 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 55.88 mg Low Source 4%
- Iron 2.48 mg Moderate 14%
- Potassium 215.29 mg Low Source 5%
- Vitamin A 29.71 mcg Low Source 3%
- Vitamin C 2.52 mg Low Source 3%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Tree Nuts 🌰
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
About This Recipe
Bright Cilantro Pesto Bowties is made with 9 ingredients and serves 8. It takes about 30 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Cayenne Pepper, Farfalle Pasta, Fresh Cilantro, and Grated Parmesan Cheese. Each serving provides about 385.33 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Bright Cilantro Pesto Bowties made of?
- The main ingredients are Cayenne Pepper, Farfalle Pasta, Fresh Cilantro, Grated Parmesan Cheese, Minced Garlic. The full list of 9 is above.
- How long does it take to make Bright Cilantro Pesto Bowties?
- About 30 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 15 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 385.33 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Bright Cilantro Pesto Bowties easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 9 ingredients and 3 steps.
- Is Bright Cilantro Pesto Bowties healthy?
- Bright Cilantro Pesto Bowties has an easyChef Pro health score of 37/100. Per serving, it provides 385.33 calories and 10.67 g of protein, or 21% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: saturated fat at 2.7 g (14% of the Daily Value). It contains Tree Nuts, Milk, Wheat and Gluten, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products
easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.
The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
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