Creamy Pesto Pasta Delight
A refreshing summer pasta dish featuring homemade pesto made from fresh greens and nuts. Customize it to be vegan or grain-free, and enjoy a quick meal that bursts with flavor.
Recipe Details
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Servings: 2 servings
Full Ingredient List
- 1 cup basil
- 1 cup arugula
- 1 cup spinach
- 1/4 cup pistachios
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup half & half or heavy cream
- 1/2 lb short pasta (e.g., brown rice penne)
- 2 tbsp parmesan
- salt & pepper
Pesto Sauce
Tools and Equipment
Ingredients
| Quantity |
Name |
Preparation Notes |
Substitutions |
| 1 cup |
basil |
|
|
| 1 cup |
arugula |
|
|
| 1 cup |
spinach |
|
|
| 1/4 cup |
pistachios |
|
|
| 1 tbsp |
lemon zest |
|
|
| As needed |
lemon juice |
Squeeze fresh juice |
|
| 2 cloves |
garlic |
|
|
| 1/4 cup |
olive oil |
|
|
| 2 tbsp |
parmesan |
|
Nutritional yeast |
| To taste |
salt & pepper |
|
|
Instructions
-
Step 1:
In a food processor, blend basil, arugula, spinach, pistachios, lemon zest, lemon juice, parmesan, garlic, olive oil, salt & pepper. Blend until smooth. (Tips: Process thoroughly for a smooth texture. It might take a few minutes.)
-
Step 2:
Heat the pesto in a pan on medium low heat. When it starts to bubble, slowly add the cream and stir. (Tips: Adding cream slowly helps to integrate it without curdling.)
Pasta
Tools and Equipment
Ingredients
| Quantity |
Name |
Preparation Notes |
Substitutions |
| 1/2 lb |
short pasta |
Cook according to package directions |
Grain-free pasta |
| 1/4 cup |
pasta water |
Reserve after pasta is cooked |
|
Instructions
-
Step 1:
Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. (Tips: Reserve a bit of cooking water to help emulsify the sauce.)
-
Step 2:
Toss the cooked pasta in the pan with the prepared pesto sauce and add reserved pasta water. Stir well to coat evenly. (Tips: Use pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency.)
-
Step 3:
Serve with additional parmesan if desired. (Tips: Top with fresh herbs or more parmesan for extra flavor.)
Additional Information
Notes: This dish can be easily adapted to fit vegan or grain-free diets by choosing the appropriate milk and pasta options.
