Description
A vibrant, fresh and herbaceous Pesto Pasta made with classic Pesto alla Genovese and your favorite pasta. Perfectly creamy, nutty, and packed with bold Italian flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves (packed)
- ¼ cup pine nuts (toasted for more flavor)
- 2 cloves garlic
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- Salt to taste
- 400g spaghetti, fusilli, or penne
- Salted water for boiling
- Reserved pasta water
- Optional: Lemon zest for brightness
- Optional: Mozzarella pearls for creaminess
- Optional: Cherry tomatoes or sun-dried tomatoes
- Optional: Grilled chicken
- Optional: Tofu or shrimp for added protein
Instructions
- Toast the pine nuts in a dry pan over medium heat until golden and fragrant, then set aside to cool.
- In a food processor or blender, combine basil, garlic, pine nuts, and Parmesan. Pulse until roughly chopped.
- While blending, slowly drizzle in olive oil until smooth. Season with salt to taste.
- Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water and then drain.
- Toss the hot pasta with the pesto, adding reserved water as needed to achieve desired consistency.
- Optional: Mix in lemon zest, mozzarella pearls, cherry tomatoes, grilled chicken, tofu, or shrimp.
- Serve immediately with extra Parmesan if desired.
Notes
Use freshly packed basil and high-quality Parmesan for the best flavor. Add protein or veggies to suit your preferences.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Boiled
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 340mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 25g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: pesto, pasta, Italian, basil, vegetarian, quick dinner