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A vibrant bowl of pesto pasta, garnished with fresh basil leaves and Parmesan cheese.

Pesto Pasta

This recipe provides a proven method to create flavorful pesto pasta in just 30 minutes, perfect for a quick and satisfying meal.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 400 g pasta
  • 1 cup pesto
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese grated
  • 0.25 cup fresh basil for garnish

Equipment

  • large pot
  • food processor

Method
 

Pesto Pasta Instructions
  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente, then drain and reserve about half a cup of the pasta water.
  2. While the pasta is cooking, prepare the pesto sauce by combining basil, pine nuts, garlic, parmesan, and olive oil in a food processor until smooth.
  3. In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, half of the reserved pasta water, and the pesto sauce, tossing well to coat.
  4. Add the halved cherry tomatoes and grated Parmesan cheese to the pasta, mixing gently.
  5. If the pasta seems too dry, add more of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency, then garnish with fresh basil before serving.

Notes

For an extra touch of flavor, toast the pine nuts before adding them to the pesto. You can also adjust the amount of garlic in the pesto to your liking and add grilled chicken or shrimp for a more substantial meal.