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    Home > Vegan Italian Recipes

    Vegan Pressure Cooker Pasta with Sundried Tomato Pesto

    Posted: Apr 12, 2016 ยท Updated: Aug 16, 2021

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    A delicious and fresh Pressure Cooker Pasta with Swiss Chard and Sundried Tomatoes. This recipe is a real timesaver and you can make it even speedier by making your pesto ahead of time and freezing it.
    Pressure Cooker Pasta with Chard and Sundried Tomato Pesto in a green and white bowl.

    Here's one way to make cooking pasta even easier with less cleanup to boot: my Pressure Cooker Pasta with Swiss Chard and Sundried Tomato Pesto.

    I have been a changed woman since I found out that cooking pasta in the pressure cooker is not just possible, it is rather perfect and kinda fun. I don't know about you, but when I make pasta, the part where you bring a pot of water to boil and then wait for the pasta to cook is the most boring -- not to mention time-consuming -- part. Even if you're working on other prep for the sauce during that time, like I usually do, it is, literally, waiting and watching the pot for the water to boil. I am convinced that whoever coined that idiom was very likely making pasta.

    Pressure Cooker Pasta with Chard and Sundried Tomato Pesto in a bowl with parsley garnish and forks and napkin on the side.


    Then there's that huge pot you need to boil the pasta in that takes up half of the dishwasher rack or is just too tall to fit into the dishwasher (yeah, that kind of stuff's a big deal for me).

    Anyway, to make a long story short, a pressure cooker pasta is pretty much a one-pot meal and it's a timesaver. You bung in the ingredients and you let the cooker do its thing (for a very short time) and present you with a perfectly cooked, al dente pasta. And no, you are not allowed to slap your hands to your cheeks and yell sacrilegio! before you have tried it at least once. I was skeptical too, at first, but I was amazed the first time I made it and sold when Jay peppered dinnertime with the word "yummy" more times than I could count.

    I used elbow macaroni because, like all kids, Jay seems to have a thing for it and it's just easier for me to make him eat pasta when it's in a shape he likes. But penne or fusilli pasta are good choices for theย pressure cooker. Feel free to use this recipe as a template and adjust to your own favorite pasta recipe. I added some Swiss chardย to the pressure cooker with the pasta, and some delicious garlic, and in the end, before serving, I stirred inย aย savory sundried tomato pesto made with one of my favorite herbs, dill. You could use a basil pesto or just about any pesto that you love. To save even more time on weeknights, make the pesto ahead of time and freeze it.

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    Pressure Cooker Pasta with Chard and Sundried Tomato Pesto served in a bowl with parsley and with forks and a napkin.
    Pressure Cooker Pasta with Chard and Sundried Tomato Pesto

    Vegan Pressure Cooker Pasta with Chard and Sundried Tomato Pesto

    A delicious and fresh Pressure Cooker Pasta with Swiss Chard and Sundried Tomatoes. This recipe is a real timesaver and you can make it even speedier by making your pesto ahead of time and freezing it.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Review Recipe
    Course: Pasta
    Cuisine: Italian
    Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
    Keyword: Vegan Pressure Cooker Pasta
    Prep Time: 10 mins
    Cook Time: 7 mins
    Total Time: 17 mins
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 305kcal
    Author: Vaishali ยท Holy Cow! Vegan Recipes

    Ingredients 

    • 1 pound whole wheat elbow macaroni
    • 1 bunch Swiss chard (about 6 large leaves, cut into shreds)
    • 7 cloves garlic (4 sliced thin and 3 minced)
    • 8 sundried tomatoes
    • 4 tablespoon dill
    • ยผ cup walnuts
    • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
    • 4 tbsp + 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
    • Juice of ยฝ lemon
    • Salt to taste
    • 2 tbso parsley (or dill, for garnish)
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Make the pesto by placing the sundried tomatoes, dill, walnuts, red pepper flakes, minced garlic cloves, ยผ cup olive oil, lemon juice and salt in a processor. Process until you have a coarse paste. Set aside.
    • In a pressure cooker heat 1 teaspoon olive oil.
    • Add the sliced garlic cloves and saute until they start to turn light golden.
    • Add the Swiss chard and cook until the chard is wilted and there is no visible water.
    • Add the pasta to the cooker and stir to mix. Add enough water to just cover the pasta, and salt to taste.
    • Click the lid on, and bring the cooker to high pressure over medium-high heat.
    • Once the cooker has reached pressure (it took about four minutes on my stove), turn the heat down to medium and let the pasta cook another three minutes.
    • Turn off the heat and let the cooker stand until all pressure is released. You can also do this manually by reading your manufacturer's instructions.
    • Once the pressure has been released, open the pressure cooker, add the pesto, and stir to mix. Check seasoning and add more salt and ground black pepper if needed.
    • Serve hot or cold, sprinkled with chopped green parsley or more fronds of chopped dill.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 305kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Potassium: 386mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 2713IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe?Please leave a comment and recipe rating below!
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    About Vaishali


    I cook and eat simple, tasty and nutritious plant-based food in my Washington, D.C. kitchen, but I never fight a craving for samosas or French fries. Read more about me here.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Alan

      April 25, 2016 at 8:19 pm

      This one was a hit in our house. And it was fun to make just like you said!

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        April 25, 2016 at 11:02 pm

        Hey Alan, that's so great! Glad you guys tried it. ?

        Reply
    2. Thalia

      April 14, 2016 at 11:21 pm

      After seeing this recipe I definitely am craving some pasta. Looks so comforting & delicious!

      Reply
    3. Noodlehead

      April 12, 2016 at 10:01 am

      I found out about pressure cooker pasta from a friend. You're right, it's been such a life changing thing! I am amazed at how perfectly the pasta turns out. I've actually cooked pasta in tomato sauce using this method. Yummylicious!

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        April 12, 2016 at 10:45 am

        Hi Noodlehead, I can imagine that pasta in tomato sauce would turn out great using this method. Yum.

        Reply
    4. margaret van haren

      April 12, 2016 at 8:15 am

      Hi Vaishali,
      Do you use sundried tomatoes in oil, or actual dried tomatoes?
      I do not only like you recipe's, I also like your country. I was there in 1978 for 6 months, and in 2013 for 3 months. I even speak a bit of hindi....
      Namastee!
      Margriet

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        April 12, 2016 at 10:44 am

        Hi Margriet, I used the plain ones here, without oil. It is important to make sure they are still juicy looking and red, and not dry and dark, because those taste bitter. Thanks for your kind words. And how lovely to know you have been to India! ๐Ÿ™‚ My husband, son and I will be visiting India later this year, and I am looking forward to it!

        Reply

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    Vaishali Honawar, Holy Cow Vegan author, profile photo

    Hi, I'm Vaishali! I cook, eat and share easy, tasty and nutritious plant-based recipes from my Washington, D.C. kitchen, but I never fight a craving for samosas or French fries. 

    More about me โ†’

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    Vaishali Honawar, Holy Cow Vegan author, profile photo

    Hi, I'm Vaishali! I cook, eat and share easy, tasty and nutritious plant-based recipes from my Washington, D.C. kitchen, but I never fight a craving for samosas or French fries. 

    More about me โ†’

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