Pasta with Pesto Sauce and
Indulge in the fresh, aromatic flavors of this classic Pasta with Pesto Sauce, a vibrant and simple recipe perfect for weeknight dinners or elegant gatherings. Featuring perfectly al dente pasta tossed with a homemade pesto sauce, this dish combines the earthy richness of fresh basil, toasty pine nuts, and garlic, balanced with the nutty creaminess of Parmesan cheese and silky extra virgin olive oil. The secret to this silky pasta is the reserved pasta water, which creates a luscious, clinging sauce that bursts with herbaceous goodness. Ready in just 25 minutes, this quick and easy recipe serves 4 and is an excellent choice for a vegetarian main course or as a stylish side dish. Top with extra Parmesan and fresh basil for a picture-perfect presentation that tastes as exquisite as it looks!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 400 grams Pasta (spaghetti, fettuccine, or your choice)
- 2 cups Fresh basil leaves
- 0.25 cup Pine nuts
- 2 Garlic cloves
- 0.5 cup Grated Parmesan cheese
- 0.5 cup Extra virgin olive oil
- 0.5 teaspoon Salt
- 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper
- 0.5 cup Water (reserved from cooking the pasta)
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente according to the package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining.
While the pasta is cooking, prepare the pesto sauce. In a food processor, combine the basil leaves, pine nuts, garlic cloves, Parmesan cheese, salt, and black pepper.
Blend the mixture while slowly drizzling in the olive oil through the feed tube. Continue processing until you achieve a smooth, yet slightly textured, consistency.
Taste the pesto and adjust seasoning if necessary. If the sauce is too thick, you can add a tablespoon or two of the reserved pasta cooking water to thin it out.
Return the drained pasta to the pot and pour the pesto sauce over it. Toss well to coat the pasta evenly.
If needed, add a few tablespoons of the reserved pasta cooking water to help the sauce adhere better to the pasta.
Serve immediately, garnished with additional Parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves if desired.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
519 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 38.3 g | 49% | |
| Saturated Fat | 6.8 g | 34% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2.9 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 10 mg | 3% | |
| Sodium | 430 mg | 19% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 33.6 g | 12% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 3.1 g | 11% | |
| Total Sugars | 1.0 g | ||
| Protein | 12.1 g | 24% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 164 mg | 13% | |
| Iron | 2.9 mg | 16% | |
| Potassium | 205 mg | 4% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
