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A vibrant bowl of pesto pasta garnished with fresh basil leaves

Proven way to grow flavorful pesto pasta in 30 minutes. Pesto Pasta

This pesto pasta recipe is a simple yet satisfying meal, ready in under 30 minutes. It features al dente pasta tossed with fresh, vibrant pesto, making it perfect for a quick and flavorful dinner.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta
  • 300 g pasta
Pesto Sauce
  • 2 cups basil leaves
  • 1/4 cup pine nuts
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese grated
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

Equipment

  • large pot
  • food processor
  • large bowl

Method
 

Pesto Pasta
  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1/2 cup of the pasta water before draining.
  2. While the pasta cooks, combine the basil, pine nuts, Parmesan, and garlic in a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped.
  3. With the food processor running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until the pesto is smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
  4. Add the drained pasta to a large bowl. Pour the pesto over the pasta and toss to coat evenly, adding a splash of reserved pasta water if needed to reach desired consistency.
  5. Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese if desired.

Notes

For extra flavor, toast the pine nuts before adding them to the pesto. You can also customize your pesto with other nuts like walnuts or almonds.