Trader Joe's Linguine with Pesto and Tomatoes

Pesto:  It literally means paste in Italian. This bag is not pesto at all. Traditional Italian pesto contains basil and pine nuts. Being that pine nuts are $10+ per pound and this bag is under $3, clearly cuts were made. Is the pesto in this dish rich with herbs, yes, but the microwave doesn't help the cause. Other than pasta that is just prepared, heat does not belong near a pesto. Then again, for $3 I'll look the other way and check my food snobbishness and try Trader Joe's Linguine with Pesto and Tomatoes.

The pros:  For $2.99 it's quite reasonably priced, fast, microwaveable, can be made into a meal with some grilled chicken. Good side or add a protein and you have a complete meal.

The cons:  Pesto was disappointing. All herbs and no texture. I know the ingredients list cashews, but I couldn't taste them.

The verdict:  Will I buy this again? For $3, yes. Just to have it on hand for a quick lunch. If you've made pesto before, you can't ever beat the taste unless you are in a restaurant. For $3 you can't even afford to make a pesto. Just saying.

The bag of Trader Joe's Linguine with Pesto and Tomatoes:

The ingredients:

The nutritional information:

How to prepare:

What comes out of the bag:

Half way through microwaving:

Giving it a good mix at the end of 4 minutes:

The tomatoes held up well through microwaving and there was a distinct taste of herbs and olive oil. The pasta was good, but don't expect al dente. For the price and the ability to make pasta in 4 minutes, you can't beat it.

Want to see more items I've reviewed from Trader Joe's? Click on Thoughts & Reviews of Trader Joe's for a searchable list.