Best 2 Simple Pesto Pasta Recipes

Pesto pasta is an incredibly simple and delicious dish that can be made in just a few minutes. With just a few basic ingredients, you can create a flavorful and satisfying meal that is perfect for a quick lunch or dinner. Pesto is a sauce made from basil, olive oil, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and garlic, and it pairs perfectly with pasta. The combination of the rich and nutty pesto with the al dente pasta creates a dish that is both satisfying and light. Whether you are a beginner cook or a seasoned pro, this simple pesto pasta recipe is sure to become a favorite.

Here are our top 2 tried and tested recipes!

SIMPLE CREAMY PESTO PASTA

Simple Creamy Pesto Pasta image

Make and share this Simple Creamy Pesto Pasta recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Neonprincess

Categories One Dish Meal

Time 30m

Yield 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter
100 g mushrooms, sliced
60 g prosciutto or 60 g ham, chopped
2 tablespoons pesto sauce
500 g penne pasta
2 tablespoons butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons flour
3/4 cup chicken stock
3/4 cup milk
salt and pepper, to taste
1/3 cup grated cheese (cheddar, parmesan, whatever takes your fancy)

Steps:

Put pasta on to boil.
While the pasta is cooking, melt the first lot of butter and saute mushrooms, garlic and proscuitto (or ham). Remove from pan, keep warm.
Melt second lot of butter. Add flour and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Stir in stock and milk and cook, stirring frequently, until sauce thickens.
Add the mushrooms, proscuitto and cheese.
Stir until cheese is melted.
Add the pesto, salt and pepper.
Toss hot pasta with sauce and serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 645, Fat 18.7, SaturatedFat 10.3, Cholesterol 44.3, Sodium 284, Carbohydrate 107.6, Fiber 14.1, Sugar 1.1, Protein 15

SIMPLE PESTO PASTA

Simple Pesto Pasta image

Simply noodles with a pesto and butter sauce. You could add chopped cooked chicken or shrimp to make a fuller meal.

Provided by MOMof5

Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian

Time 15m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 4

Ingredients

½ (16 ounce) box dry fettuccine pasta
¼ cup butter, or to taste
3 tablespoons minced garlic
¼ cup pesto

Steps:

Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a rolling boil; cook the fettuccini at a boil until cooked through yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes; drain. Transfer the fettuccini to a bowl.
Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook the garlic and pesto in the melted butter until warmed, 2 to 3 minutes; pour over the fettuccini and toss to coat.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 392 calories, Carbohydrate 44.4 g, Cholesterol 35.5 mg, Fat 19.9 g, Fiber 2.5 g, Protein 10.9 g, SaturatedFat 9.5 g, Sodium 204.7 mg, Sugar 2 g

Tips:

Use fresh basil. Fresh basil has the best flavor, so it's worth it to buy it if you can find it. If you can't find fresh basil, you can use dried basil, but the flavor will be less intense.
Don't overcook the pasta. Pasta should be cooked al dente, which means it should be firm to the bite. If you overcook the pasta, it will become mushy and lose its flavor.
Use a good quality olive oil. Olive oil is the main ingredient in pesto, so it's important to use a good quality oil. Look for an extra virgin olive oil that has a fruity flavor.
Add some nuts or seeds to the pesto. Nuts or seeds can add a nice crunch and flavor to pesto. Some popular options include pine nuts, walnuts, and almonds.
Use pesto as a marinade. Pesto can be used as a marinade for chicken, fish, or vegetables. Simply rub the pesto all over the food and let it marinate for at least 30 minutes before cooking.

Conclusion:

Pesto is a versatile sauce that can be used in a variety of dishes. It's perfect for pasta, pizza, sandwiches, and even as a marinade. With its bright, flavorful taste, pesto is sure to be a hit with everyone at your table.