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–+ servings

Basil Pesto Recipe (Pesto Pasta Recipe Included)

Aarthi
Traditional basil pesto recipe, made with just 8 ingredients is an amazing condiment to have on hand to brighten up pasta, salads and sandwiches. Learn how to make basil pesto and its uses with step by step pictures and video. 
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Pasta
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4 servings
Calories 656 kcal

Equipment

  • Blender
  • Cooking pot

Ingredients
  

For Making Pesto

  • 2 cups Fresh Basil Leaves
  • 5 cloves Garlic
  • 4 tablespoon Pine nuts
  • ⅓ cup Parmesan Cheese chopped roughly
  • ½ teaspoon Lemon Zest
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • ½ teaspoon Black Pepper Powder
  • 3 tablespoon Lemon Juice or to taste
  • ½ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

For Pesto Pasta Recipe

  • 200 grams Spaghetti
  • Water for cooking pasta
  • 2 teaspoon Salt
  • ½ cup Pesto

Instructions
 

  • Take pine nuts in a dry pan. Toast on medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant and slightly toasted. Remove it from heat and let it cool.
  • In a food processor, take basil, pine nuts, garlic, parmesan cheese, lemon zest. Blend till coarsely crushed. Now add in salt, pepper, lemon juice and olive oil. Blend till smooth. Now pesto is done.
  • Cook pasta in salted boiling water till it is cooked. Strain pasta and take it in a saute pan. Reserve the pasta cooking liquid. Now add in pesto into the pasta and some of the pasta cooking liquid. Toss for 2 to 3 minutes on medium heat till the pasta is emulsified. Serve hot.

Video

Notes

  • Use fresh basil leaves for bright and fresh flavour. Wash the basil leaves really well and pat them dry before using. 
  • You can either grate Parmesan, or chop them roughly and use. 
  • You can add more or less garlic as per your taste. 
  • Taste and adjust lemon juice as per your taste. 
  • Toasting pine nuts enhances flavour so never skip it. 
  • You can use almonds, cashews or walnuts instead of pine nuts. 
  • Be generous with the olive oil. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingsCalories: 656kcalCarbohydrates: 44gProtein: 13gFat: 48gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 22gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 2172mgPotassium: 245mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 1328IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 192mgIron: 2mg
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