If you're looking for an easy and flavorful pasta recipe, homemade pesto is the way to go. This vibrant and fresh sauce is made with simple ingredients and takes only a few minutes to prepare. Pair it with your favorite pasta and enjoy a delicious dinner in no time.
Ingredients
To make pesto pasta, you will need:
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/3 cup pine nuts
- 3-4 garlic cloves
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 pound pasta (penne, spaghetti, or any other type)
Note: You can substitute pine nuts with walnuts or almonds if you prefer.
Instructions
1. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Reserve a cup of pasta cooking water and drain the rest.
2. In a food processor or blender, combine the basil leaves, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, garlic cloves, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Pulse until finely chopped.
3. With the machine running, slowly pour the olive oil in a steady stream until the mixture forms a smooth paste.
4. In a large bowl, toss the cooked pasta with the pesto sauce until well coated. If the sauce is too thick, add a few tablespoons of the reserved pasta cooking water.
5. Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese or chopped fresh basil leaves.
Tips
- For a creamier pesto, add a tablespoon of cream cheese or heavy cream while blending the ingredients.
- If you don't have a food processor or blender, you can make the pesto by finely chopping the basil, garlic, and nuts by hand, and then mixing them with the grated Parmesan cheese and olive oil.
- If you're not using the pesto immediately, store it in a tightly sealed container in the fridge for up to a week or in the freezer for up to three months.
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