Fresh Basil Pesto Pasta
Vibrant homemade pesto coats al dente pasta in under 20 minutes. Toast pine nuts for depth, then pulse with basil, garlic, and cheese for a bright, nutty sauce.
- Total time
- 18 min
- Servings
- 2
- Calories
- 620
- Protein
- 18g
Ingredients
7 items — tap to check off
Missing one? Custrd suggests a swap that works.
Open the appInstructions
Step 1
Toast pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat, shaking often, until fragrant and golden, about 3 minutes.
Step 2
Transfer nuts to a food processor with basil, garlic, and 0.25 teaspoon salt. Pulse until coarsely chopped.
Step 3
Drizzle in olive oil while pulsing until pesto reaches your desired texture—still slightly chunky is ideal.
Step 4
Stir in Parmesan cheese by hand. Taste and adjust salt and pepper.
Step 5
Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente per box directions.
Step 6
Reserve 1 cup pasta water. Drain pasta and return it to the pot.
Step 7
Add pesto to pasta and toss gently, adding pasta water a few tablespoons at a time until sauce coats each strand.
Step 8
Divide between bowls and serve immediately with extra Parmesan if desired.
Tools you’ll need
- large pot
- skillet
- food processor
- colander
- wooden spoon
Cook smarter
Get matched recipes for what’s in your fridge
Custrd is an iPhone and Android app that finds real recipes from the ingredients you already have. No more grocery-list aspirations. Try it free for 7 days.
