Description
A vibrant and earthy pasta dish featuring a homemade pesto sauce of fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, and Parmesan cheese, perfect for family gatherings and special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves
- 1/2 cup pine nuts (or walnuts/sunflower seeds)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (or nutritional yeast for a vegan option)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 8 ounces pasta of choice (spaghetti, penne, gluten-free)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente, reserving 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- In a food processor, combine the basil, pine nuts, garlic, and Parmesan cheese and pulse until coarsely chopped.
- With the processor running, drizzle in the olive oil until a smooth consistency is reached. Adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and lemon juice as desired.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the drained pasta and pesto. Use reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
- Serve with extra cheese and toasted pine nuts for garnish.
Notes
For added flavor, sauté mushrooms like cremini or shiitake to serve alongside the pasta. This dish pairs well with a light salad or grilled chicken.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 19g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
Keywords: pasta, pesto, Italian, vegetarian, easy recipe