Pasta with Pesto
A simple yet flavorful Italian dish, Pasta with Pesto is perfect for a quick meal. Combining fresh ingredients and a delicious pesto sauce, this dish is sure to become a household favorite.
Nutrition
Calories: 420cal
Carbohydrate: 55g
Protein: 12g
Fat: 18g
Cholesterol: – -mg
Sodium: – -mg
Difficulty Level: easy
10 min Prep
15 min Cook
25 min Total
4 Servings
Ingredients
- 14 oz (400g) spaghetti
- 1/4 cup (60ml) extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cups (100g) fresh basil leaves
- 1/2 cup (50g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup (30g) pine nuts
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Optional: Cherry tomatoes for garnish
- Optional: Extra Parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with water and add a pinch of salt. Bring it to a boil over high heat.
- Add the spaghetti to the boiling water and cook according to the package instructions, typically 7-9 minutes until al dente.
- While the pasta is cooking, prepare the pesto. In a blender or food processor, combine basil leaves, grated Parmesan, pine nuts, garlic, salt, and black pepper.
- With the blender running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil and blend until smooth. Add the lemon juice and blend once more to combine.
- Taste the pesto and adjust seasoning if necessary, adding more salt or lemon juice as preferred.
- Once the pasta is cooked, reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain well in a colander.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta with the prepared pesto. Toss to coat evenly.
- Serve the pasta with cherry tomatoes and extra Parmesan cheese if desired.
