Spaghetti with Pesto
Brighten up your dinner table with this quick and flavorful Spaghetti with Pesto recipe—a perfect harmony of simple ingredients and bold flavors. Al dente spaghetti is tossed in a velvety homemade pesto made with fresh basil, toasted pine nuts, zesty garlic, Parmesan cheese, and a squeeze of lemon for a refreshing twist. With just 15 minutes of prep time and a total cooking time of 10 minutes, this easy pasta dish is perfect for busy weeknights or casual gatherings. The toasted pine nuts and drizzle of extra virgin olive oil elevate the pesto to restaurant-quality perfection, while a touch of pasta water ensures every strand of spaghetti is coated in creamy green goodness. Serve it fresh with a sprinkle of Parmesan and a garnish of basil for a stunning presentation that tastes as good as it looks! Keywords: Spaghetti with Pesto, homemade pesto pasta, easy Italian recipes, basil pesto pasta, quick dinner recipes.
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Ingredients
- 400 grams spaghetti
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves
- 0.25 cup pine nuts
- 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 cloves garlic cloves
- 0.5 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Directions
Step 1
Fill a large pot with water, add a pinch of salt, and bring to a boil over high heat.
Step 2
Once boiling, add the spaghetti and cook according to the package instructions until al dente, about 9-11 minutes.
Step 3
Meanwhile, in a small dry skillet, toast the pine nuts over medium heat until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently. Be careful not to burn them.
Step 4
In a food processor, combine the basil leaves, toasted pine nuts, grated Parmesan, garlic cloves, salt, and black pepper. Pulse a few times to combine the ingredients.
Step 5
With the processor running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil and lemon juice until the pesto is smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
Step 6
Once the spaghetti is cooked, reserve about 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the spaghetti thoroughly.
Step 7
In a large bowl, combine the hot spaghetti with the pesto. Toss everything together until the pasta is well coated, adding a little of the reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
Step 8
Serve immediately, garnished with additional Parmesan and basil leaves if desired.
Nutrition Facts
| Serving size | (653.3g) |
|---|
| Amount per serving | % Daily Value* |
|---|---|
| Calories | 2005.1 |
| Total Fat 151.1g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat 26.5g | 0% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat 11.5g | |
| Cholesterol 40mg | 0% |
| Sodium 3044.9mg | 0% |
| Total Carbohydrate 132.5g | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber 10.1g | 0% |
| Total Sugars 5.3g | |
| Protein 45.6g | 0% |
| Vitamin D 0IU | 0% |
| Calcium 552.9mg | 0% |
| Iron 10.0mg | 0% |
| Potassium 556.2mg | 0% |
Source of Calories