Pasta with Pesto Sauce
Transform your dinner into a vibrant, fresh feast with this easy and irresistible Pasta with Pesto Sauce recipe. Featuring perfectly al dente spaghetti coated in a luscious basil pesto, this dish is a celebration of classic Italian flavors. The homemade pesto comes alive with fragrant fresh basil leaves, nutty Parmesan cheese, and toasted pine nuts, all blended together with zesty lemon juice, garlic, and rich extra virgin olive oil. Ready in just 25 minutes, this quick yet gourmet meal is perfect for busy weeknights or casual gatherings. Tossed with a bit of starchy pasta water for a silky finish, it’s a foolproof crowd-pleaser. Top with extra Parmesan and fresh basil for the ultimate finishing touch and serve this vibrant pasta dish warm alongside a crisp green salad or garlic bread for a complete Mediterranean-inspired dining experience.
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Ingredients
- 400 grams spaghetti or pasta of choice
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves
- 0.5 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 0.25 cup pine nuts
- 2 medium garlic cloves
- 0.5 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 0.5 cup water (from pasta cooking)
Directions
Step 1
Fill a large pot with water, add a generous pinch of salt, and bring to a boil over high heat.
Step 2
Add the spaghetti or pasta of your choice to the boiling water and cook according to the package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes.
Step 3
While the pasta is cooking, prepare the pesto sauce. In a food processor, combine the fresh basil leaves, grated parmesan cheese, pine nuts, garlic cloves, salt, and black pepper.
Step 4
Pulse the ingredients together until they are finely chopped.
Step 5
With the processor running, slowly stream in the extra virgin olive oil until the mixture is smooth and emulsified.
Step 6
Add the lemon juice and pulse again to mix. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
Step 7
Reserve 0.5 cup of pasta cooking water and then drain the pasta.
Step 8
Return the drained pasta to the pot. Add the pesto sauce to the pasta and toss to combine, adding a splash of reserved pasta water if needed to reach desired sauce consistency.
Step 9
Serve the pasta immediately, garnished with additional parmesan cheese and a few fresh basil leaves if desired.
Nutrition Facts
| Serving size | (771.2g) |
|---|
| Amount per serving | % Daily Value* |
|---|---|
| Calories | 2014.9 |
| Total Fat 151.8g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat 26.5g | 0% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat 11.5g | |
| Cholesterol 40mg | 0% |
| Sodium 1868.9mg | 0% |
| Total Carbohydrate 135.0g | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber 10.2g | 0% |
| Total Sugars 4.0g | |
| Protein 45.8g | 0% |
| Vitamin D 0IU | 0% |
| Calcium 544.0mg | 0% |
| Iron 6.7mg | 0% |
| Potassium 568.9mg | 0% |
Source of Calories