Macarrão ao Molho Pesto

Macarrão ao Molho Pesto is a vibrant Brazilian pasta dish featuring a fresh and aromatic dairy-free pesto sauce. This dish combines the richness of nuts and herbs, delivering a burst of flavor with every bite.

Ingredients

• Pasta (e.g., penne or spaghetti) - 160 grams
• Fresh basil leaves - 50 grams
• Pine nuts - 30 grams
• Garlic - 2 cloves
• Olive oil - 60 ml
• Nutritional yeast - 2 tablespoons
• Lemon juice - 1 tablespoon
• Salt - to taste
• Black pepper - to taste
• Cherry tomatoes - 100 grams, halved
• Arugula - 50 grams

Steps

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
2. While the pasta is cooking, prepare the pesto. In a food processor, combine the basil leaves, pine nuts, garlic, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper.
3. With the processor running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Adjust seasoning if needed.
4. Once the pasta is cooked, reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta.
5. In the same pot, combine the drained pasta with the pesto, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time until you reach your desired sauce consistency.
6. Stir in the halved cherry tomatoes and arugula until everything is well coated and heated through.
7. Serve immediately, garnished with additional pine nuts or basil if desired.

Nutrition

• Calories: 450
• Protein: 12 g
• Carbs: 62 g
• Fiber: 5 g
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 300 mg
• Cholesterol: 0 mg
• Total Fat: 20 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
• Water: 0.2 L

Health Benefits

• Rich in healthy fats from olive oil and nuts, promoting heart health.
• High in antioxidants and vitamins from fresh basil and cherry tomatoes.

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