Pesto Pasta

Pesto Pasta

Pesto Pasta

Veg

Al dente pasta tossed in a vibrant Genovese pesto of basil, pine nuts, Parmigiano, garlic, and extra-virgin olive oil.

Cuisines

Italian

Best for

Lunch Dinner

Build a full meal around Pesto Pasta

Get a matched combo of sides and accents

Recipe

Prep: 15 min Cook: 15 min Total: 30 min 2-3 servings

Ingredients

Basil 2 cups Basil , fresh leaves
olive oil 1/2 cup Olive oil , extra virgin
Pine Nut 1/3 cup Pine Nut
Garlic 2 cloves Garlic , finely chopped
Parmesan Cheese 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese , grated
salt 1/4 teaspoon Salt
Black Pepper Black Pepper , freshly ground to taste
Pastum 250 grams Pastum , of choice (e.g., spaghetti, fusilli)
water Water , for boiling pasta

Instructions

  1. 1 In a food processor, combine basil leaves, pine nuts, and garlic. Pulse until coarsely chopped.
  2. 2 Add Parmesan cheese and salt, and pulse again to combine.
  3. 3 With the processor running, slowly add the olive oil in a steady stream until the mixture is smooth and emulsified.
  4. 4 Season the pesto with freshly ground black pepper to taste.
  5. 5 Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
  6. 6 Reserve about 1/4 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.
  7. 7 In a large bowl, toss the hot pasta with the pesto, adding a little reserved pasta water if needed to coat the pasta evenly.
  8. 8 Serve immediately, garnished with additional Parmesan cheese if desired.

Tips

For a nut-free version, substitute pine nuts with sunflower seeds or omit them entirely.