Easy Pesto Pasta Recipe
This Easy Pesto Pasta recipe features perfectly cooked spaghetti tossed in a homemade basil pesto sauce, finished with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves. It’s a simple, flavorful dish that comes together quickly, making it ideal for a satisfying weeknight meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Pesto Sauce
- 1 batch homemade basil pesto (prepared with ⅓ cup olive oil)
Pasta
- 12 ounces spaghetti pasta
- Sea salt (for pasta water and seasoning)
- Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
To Serve
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese (for serving)
- Fresh basil leaves (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the pesto: Make the homemade basil pesto using ⅓ cup of olive oil as specified in the referenced pesto recipe.
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.
- Toss the pasta with pesto: Transfer the drained pasta to a large skillet. Add the prepared pesto and ½ cup of the reserved pasta water. Toss well to coat the spaghetti evenly in the pesto, adding more pasta water if needed to create a lightly creamy sauce. If desired, gently warm the pasta over low heat to meld flavors.
- Season and serve: Taste and season the pasta with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper as needed. Serve topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and garnish with fresh basil leaves for extra aroma and presentation.
Notes
- Reserve pasta water contains starch which helps the pesto coat the pasta smoothly, creating a creamy texture without added cream.
- Use high-quality extra virgin olive oil and fresh basil for the best flavor in the pesto.
- If you prefer, you can slightly warm the pesto pasta in the skillet, but avoid overheating to preserve the fresh taste of the pesto.
- Pasta should be cooked al dente to provide the best texture when tossed with the sauce.
- Feel free to add toasted pine nuts or a squeeze of lemon juice to the pesto for extra depth.
Keywords: pesto pasta, basil pesto, easy pasta recipe, Italian pasta, vegetarian pasta
Find it online: https://kitchenbyclara.com/easy-pesto-pasta-recipe/
