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–+ servings
A skillet of pasta made using an easy basil pesto pasta recipe.

Easy Basil Pesto Pasta

Indulge in the delightful simplicity of our Easy Basil Pesto Pasta recipe! With just a handful of ingredients, including fragrant basil, nutty pine nuts, and savoury Parmesan cheese, you can create a luxurious pesto sauce that elevates any pasta dish.
In a few simple steps, you can create a restaurant-worthy dish that will impress your family and friends. Whether enjoyed as a quick weeknight dinner or a leisurely weekend meal, this Easy Basil Pesto Pasta is sure to become a favourite in your recipe repertoire. Buon appetito!
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Dinner, Lunch, Pasta
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4 People

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups fresh basil leaves stems removed
  • 2 cloves of garlic peeled and crushed
  • ⅓ cup pine nuts
  • ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan or pecorino cheese
  • 8 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • Pasta of your choice

Instructions
 

Prepare the Pesto Sauce

  • In a food processor, combine the fresh basil leaves, crushed garlic cloves, pine nuts, and grated Parmesan cheese.
  • Pulse the ingredients until they are finely chopped and well combined.
  • While the food processor is running, gradually pour in the extra virgin olive oil until the mixture forms a smooth and creamy pesto sauce.
  • Season the pesto sauce with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Adjust the seasoning according to your preference.

Cook the Pasta

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
  • Add your choice of pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package instructions until al dente.
  • Once cooked, drain the pasta, reserving a small amount of the pasta cooking water.

Combine Pasta and Pesto

  • In a large mixing bowl, toss the cooked pasta with the prepared basil pesto sauce until evenly coated.
  • If the pesto pasta seems too thick, you can loosen it with a splash of the reserved pasta cooking water.
  • Taste the pasta and adjust the seasoning if needed with more salt and pepper.

Serve and Enjoy

  • Divide the pesto pasta among serving plates or bowls.
  • Garnish with additional grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves, if desired. Serve immediately.
Keyword easy basil recipes, pesto meal ideas, quick meals with pesto, recipe for basil pesto pasta
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