Description
A delightful summer dish featuring pasta coated in a vibrant pesto sauce made with fresh basil, garlic, nuts, and Parmesan.
Ingredients
Scale
- Pasta (spaghetti, fusilli, or whole wheat)
- 2 cups fresh basil
- 1/2 cup nuts (pine nuts, walnuts, or cashews)
- 2–3 cloves garlic
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Boil salted water and cook pasta until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain.
- In a food processor, combine basil, nuts, and garlic; pulse until finely chopped.
- With the processor running, slowly add olive oil to create a smooth sauce; stir in Parmesan, salt, and pepper.
- Combine the cooked pasta with the pesto, adding reserved pasta water until desired consistency is reached.
- Serve immediately, garnishing with more Parmesan and optional red pepper flakes.
Notes
Use fresh ingredients for the best flavor. Feel free to add seasonal vegetables for more nutrition.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
Keywords: pasta, pesto, summer dish, quick meal, vegetarian