Spaghetti with Mint Parsley Pesto
Elevate your pasta night with this refreshing and vibrant Spaghetti with Mint Parsley Pesto—a unique twist on traditional pesto that’s bursting with fresh, herbaceous flavors. This quick and easy recipe combines the zesty brightness of mint and parsley with nutty pine nuts, creamy Parmesan, and a hint of garlic, all blended into a silky sauce with extra-virgin olive oil and a splash of lemon juice. Tossed with perfectly al dente spaghetti, this dish is ready in just 25 minutes, making it an ideal choice for busy weeknights or an elegant dinner party centerpiece. Serve it with a sprinkle of Parmesan and fresh herbs for a restaurant-worthy presentation that’s sure to impress. Perfect for vegetarian pasta lovers and anyone seeking a creative way to use fresh garden herbs!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 400 grams spaghetti
- 30 grams fresh mint leaves
- 30 grams fresh parsley leaves
- 50 grams pine nuts
- 50 grams grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large garlic clove
- 80 milliliters extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 120 milliliters water
Instructions
Fill a large pot with salted water and bring it to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to the package instructions until al dente, usually about 8-10 minutes.
While the spaghetti cooks, make the pesto. In a food processor, combine the mint leaves, parsley leaves, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, garlic clove, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper.
Blend the mixture until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed. If the pesto is too thick, gradually add up to 120 milliliters of water to loosen it to your desired consistency.
Once the spaghetti is cooked, reserve ½ cup of pasta water and then drain the rest.
Return the spaghetti to the pot and pour the mint parsley pesto over the top. Toss until the pasta is evenly coated, adding a splash of reserved pasta water if the sauce needs to be thinned further.
Serve immediately, garnished with additional Parmesan cheese and a few whole parsley or mint leaves if desired.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
478 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 33.3 g | 43% | |
| Saturated Fat | 6.1 g | 31% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 4.3 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 12 mg | 4% | |
| Sodium | 707 mg | 31% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 34.5 g | 13% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 3.2 g | 11% | |
| Total Sugars | 1.2 g | ||
| Protein | 13.2 g | 26% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 184 mg | 14% | |
| Iron | 2.6 mg | 14% | |
| Potassium | 222 mg | 5% | |
*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.
