Description
This authentic Italian Pesto Pasta recipe delivers a vibrant and flavorful dish ready in just 15 minutes. Using fresh basil, toasted pine nuts, and parmesan cheese blended into a creamy pesto sauce, it’s perfectly paired with al dente spaghetti. Whether you use homemade or store-bought pesto, this easy and fresh meal is perfect for a quick lunch or dinner, garnished with extra parmesan and basil leaves for an irresistible finish.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pasta
- 6 oz (170 g) spaghetti pasta
- Salt, for boiling water
- Optional garnish: grated parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves
For the Homemade Pesto
- 1.5 oz (40 g) fresh basil leaves (approximately 2 cups)
- 2 garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons pine nuts
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- ¼ lemon, juiced
- 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Additional
- 3–4 tablespoons basil pesto (homemade or store-bought)
Instructions
- Toast the pine nuts: Place pine nuts in a skillet over low heat and toast for a few minutes until they are lightly golden and fragrant. Keep a close eye to prevent burning.
- Prepare the pesto sauce: In a food processor or blender, combine the toasted pine nuts, fresh basil leaves, garlic cloves, grated parmesan, lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, and a good pinch of salt and black pepper. Pulse until the mixture is blended but still has some texture, ensuring it’s not overprocessed.
- Boil the pasta: Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving some of the cooking water.
- Combine pasta and pesto: Transfer the drained pasta to a large bowl. Add 3 tablespoons of pesto sauce and a splash of reserved pasta water. Gently toss the pasta with tongs, adding more pasta water as needed to achieve a silky texture. If preferred, add a fourth spoonful of pesto to enhance flavor.
- Adjust seasoning and serve: Taste the pesto pasta and adjust seasoning if necessary. For store-bought pesto, a squeeze of lemon juice can brighten the flavors. Serve immediately, garnished with grated parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves for an authentic presentation.
Notes
- For a more authentic texture, make pesto using a mortar and pestle.
- Keep an eye on the pine nuts while toasting as they can burn quickly.
- Use pasta cooking water to loosen the sauce—it helps the pesto stick to the noodles beautifully.
- You can store leftover pesto in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Adjust the amount of garlic or lemon juice in the pesto to suit your taste preferences.
- Prep Time: 7 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: pesto pasta, homemade pesto, Italian pasta recipe, quick pasta meal, basil pesto, easy dinner, vegetarian pasta
