Best 6 Pasta Al Pesto Recipes

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Pasta al pesto is a classic Italian dish that combines the flavors of basil, garlic, pine nuts, and olive oil into a simple yet flavorful sauce. Whether you are a seasoned home cook or a novice in the kitchen, preparing pasta al pesto can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. In this article, we will guide you through the process of creating the perfect pasta al pesto, sharing tips on selecting fresh ingredients, cooking the pasta to perfection, and creating a vibrant and aromatic pesto sauce. From choosing the right type of pasta to selecting the best basil, we will provide you with all the information you need to make a delicious and authentic pasta al pesto dish.

Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!

JUICY PESTO PASTA!



JUICY Pesto Pasta! image

Recipe video above. This is how to make a great pesto pasta that's slick with pesto sauce without adding tons and tons of oil which makes it overly oily. The secret is using the pasta cooking water - it emulsifies with the oil in the pesto which makes it cling to every strand of pasta. A technique used in every Italian household! Make this with homemade pesto for the best flavour.

Provided by Nagi

Categories     Mains     Pasta

Number Of Ingredients 5

1 quantity homemade pesto ((Note 1))
300 - 350 g / 10 - 12 oz pasta of choice ((ziti, penne and spaghetti are my favourites, Note 2))
2 tsp salt
3/4 cup pasta cooking water
Parmesan, for serving

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of water to the boil with the salt.
  • Add pasta and cook for the length of time per the packet.
  • Just before draining, scoop out 1 cup of of the pasta cooking water.
  • Drain pasta in a colander, leave it for a minute.
  • Transfer pasta to a bowl (do not use pasta cooking pot, too hot).
  • Add pesto and 1/4 cup of pasta water. Toss to coat pasta in pesto, adding more water if required to make pasta silky and saucy, rather than dry and sticky.
  • Taste, add more salt and pepper if desired.
  • Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parmesan.

PASTA AL PESTO



Pasta Al Pesto image

Make and share this Pasta Al Pesto recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Rita1652

Categories     Vegetable

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

8 ounces pasta (preferably linguine)
1/4 lb peapods
3 carrots, thinly sliced
fresh ground black pepper (for garnish) (optional)
2 tablespoons safflower oil or 2 tablespoons olive oil
fresh ground black pepper (for garnish) (optional)
3 small zucchini, thinly sliced
2 cups fresh basil leaves
2 cloves garlic
1/4 cup pine nuts (pignolli)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2-3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • PESTO:
  • Place ingredients in bowl of food processor.
  • Process until smooth, using rubber scraper to push down the sides occasionally.
  • Variations: - add 3/4 c freshly grated Parmesan Cheese
  • PASTA:
  • Boil a large pot of water; cook pasta until al dente.
  • While pasta is cooking, prepare pesto; set aside, covered.
  • Steam carrots.
  • Meanwhile, in skillet, heat oil.
  • Add zucchini and peapods.
  • Stir continuously until crisp/tender.
  • When pasta is done, drain well; toss pesto with noodles until they are well coated.
  • Then toss in vegetables.
  • Garnish with pepper and cheese.
  • VARIATIONS: - add 1/2 c Parmesan cheese to Pesto

PESTO PASTA



Pesto Pasta image

Easy to make, but full of flavor! Good hot or cold.

Provided by Lauren

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Italian

Time 15m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 7

½ cup chopped onion
2 ½ tablespoons pesto
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 (16 ounce) package pasta
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste

Steps:

  • Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling water until done. Drain.
  • Meanwhile, heat the oil in a frying pan over medium low heat. Add pesto, onion, and salt and pepper. Cook about five minutes, or until onions are soft.
  • In a large bowl, mix pesto mixture into pasta. Stir in grated cheese. Serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 224.7 calories, Carbohydrate 32 g, Cholesterol 43.5 mg, Fat 7.2 g, Fiber 2.5 g, Protein 7.8 g, SaturatedFat 1.5 g, Sodium 71.3 mg, Sugar 0.4 g

PASTA PESTO



Pasta Pesto image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 20m

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 pound penne pasta
1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
2 pints cherry tomatoes, halved
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
1/2 cup basil leaves, torn
Salt
1/3 cup grated Parmesan, optional

Steps:

  • Cook the pasta in rapidly boiling water until al dente. Just before draining the pasta, reserve 1 cup of the water.
  • In a medium saute pan over medium high heat, toast the pine nuts until fragrant and golden, about 2 to 3 minutes, set aside. Place pan back on the heat over medium-high heat. Add the tomatoes and 1/2 cup of the pasta water. Add the garlic and the red pepper flakes. If the sauce is too dry, add the remaining pasta water. Add the basil to the pan. Saute until just wilted. Remove the sauce from the heat.
  • Place the pasta in a large bowl. Season the pasta with salt. Top the pasta with the tomato sauce. Sprinkle the toasted pine nuts over the pasta and cheese (if using). Toss to combine, taste and adjust seasonings, serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 256 calorie, Fat 5 grams, SaturatedFat 1 grams, Carbohydrate 41 grams, Fiber 8 grams, Protein 12 grams

EASY PESTO PASTA



Easy pesto pasta image

This supper couldn't be easier. Make our filling pesto pasta recipe for a quick, family-friendly dish you can throw together with storecupboard ingredients

Provided by Mary Cadogan

Categories     Dinner, Lunch, Main course, Pasta, Snack, Starter, Supper

Time 5m

Number Of Ingredients 3

500g pack spaghetti , fresh or dried
2-3 tbsp pesto from a jar, or see tip below to make your own
50g parmesan (or vegetarian alternative), shaved or grated

Steps:

  • Boil spaghetti in a large pan according to pack instructions. Drain well, then return to the pan with the pesto and half the Parmesan. Toss well, then tip into a serving bowl and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 336 calories, Fat 5 grams fat, SaturatedFat 2 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 62 grams carbohydrates, Fiber 2 grams fiber, Protein 14 grams protein, Sodium 0.23 milligram of sodium

PASTA WITH PESTO



Pasta with Pesto image

Categories     Pasta     Quick & Easy     Basil     Gourmet

Yield Makes 4 first-course servings

Number Of Ingredients 4

2/3 cup pesto
1 pound linguine or spaghetti, 1/3 cup cooking water reserved
Salt and pepper to taste and toss
Garnish: Parmigiano-Reggiano, grated

Steps:

  • Put pesto in a large bowl. Cook linguine or spaghetti until al dente. Whisk about 1/3 cup pasta cooking water into pesto. Add drained pasta to thinned pesto with salt and pepper to taste and toss well. Serve with additional Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Tips:

  • Use fresh basil for the pesto sauce. This will give it the best flavor.
  • If you don't have fresh basil, you can use dried basil. However, the flavor will not be as good.
  • Use a food processor to make the pesto sauce. This will help to create a smooth and creamy sauce.
  • If you don't have a food processor, you can chop the basil and other ingredients by hand. However, this will take longer and the sauce may not be as smooth.
  • Add some Parmesan cheese to the pesto sauce for extra flavor.
  • You can add other ingredients to the pesto sauce, such as pine nuts, walnuts, or sun-dried tomatoes.
  • Serve the pesto sauce over pasta, chicken, fish, or vegetables.
  • You can also use pesto sauce as a dip for bread or crackers.

Conclusion:

Pesto is a versatile sauce that can be used in a variety of dishes. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste. Whether you are looking for a quick and easy weeknight meal or a more elegant dish for a special occasion, pesto is a great option. So next time you are looking for a new recipe, give pesto a try. You won't be disappointed!

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