Pasta with Pesto

This Pasta with Pesto is a vibrant and flavorful dish that brings the freshness of basil and garlic to your table. Perfectly cooked pasta is tossed with a homemade pesto, making it a delightful and satisfying meal.

Ingredients

• Pasta (spaghetti or linguine) - 150 grams
• Fresh basil leaves - 50 grams
• Garlic cloves - 2
• Pine nuts - 30 grams
• Parmesan cheese (grated) - 30 grams
• Olive oil - 60 milliliters
• Salt - to taste
• Pepper - to taste
• Cherry tomatoes (optional, for garnish) - 100 grams

Steps

1. Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup of pasta cooking water and then drain the pasta.
2. In a food processor, combine the basil leaves, garlic, pine nuts, and Parmesan cheese. Pulse until finely chopped.
3. With the food processor running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until the mixture becomes a smooth paste. If too thick, add a bit of the reserved pasta water to reach desired consistency.
4. Season the pesto with salt and pepper to taste.
5. In a large bowl, combine the drained pasta with the pesto, tossing well to coat the pasta evenly.
6. If desired, garnish with halved cherry tomatoes and an extra sprinkle of Parmesan before serving.

Nutrition

• Calories: 550
• Protein: 15 g
• Carbs: 65 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 300 mg
• Cholesterol: 10 mg
• Total Fat: 25 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 21 g
• Water: 0.3 L

Health Benefits

• Rich in healthy fats from olive oil and pine nuts.
• High in antioxidants and vitamins from fresh basil.

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