Pesto Pasta
Pesto pasta is a quick and easy pasta dish that comes together with just a few ingredients! It's fresh and flavorful!
Servings 6
Calories 482kcal
Ingredients
- 1 pound pasta
- 2 cups basil fresh, stems removed
- 2 tablespoons pine nuts
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- ½ cup olive oil
- ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese freshly grated
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Prepare pasta al dente.
- Meanwhile, in a food processor, combine basil, pine nuts, garlic, olive oil, and red pepper. Pulse.
- Reserving 1 cup of pasta water, drain pasta.
- Toss with pesto, adding pasta water, if desired to thin sauce.
- Garish with parmesan and salt and pepper to taste.
Video
Notes
Substitutions
- Store Bought Pesto - Replace basil, pine nuts, garlic and olive oil with store bought pesto.
- Pine Nuts - No pine nuts? No problem. Walnuts make a great substitute.
- Minced Garlic - I use store bought minced garlic, but you can replace with 2 garlic cloves.
- Parmesan - You can substitute with grana padano or asiago. Even goat cheese offers nice flavor.
Variations
- Add a squeeze of lemon juice or zest over the top of the dish.
- Add cherry tomatoes.
Nutrition
Calories: 482kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 73mg | Potassium: 212mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 467IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 82mg | Iron: 2mg