If you like the taste of fresh basil then you will love this italian pasta recipe. Best of all it’s so easy and quick to prepare. Serves 4.
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup of pine nuts
- 2 cups of basil leaves
- 16 oz of dried spaghetti
- 1/3 cup of parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 3 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
- 1 cup of extra virgin olive oil
- salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Cooking Instructions
Place the pine nuts, fresh basil, pamesan cheese, and garlic in a food processor or blender and process all the ingredients until the mixture is roughly chopped.
Meanwhile, cook spaghetti as per packet instructions, until al dente.
While blending the basil mixture, slowly add the extra virgin olive oil in a thin stream, and repeat the process until the mixture is smooth but retains some texture. It will become a nice green color so long as its not over processed. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Pour into a jar for storing and cover with a thin layer of olive oil. Can be kept for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
Pesto is delicious when served with spaghetti pasta or homemade gnocchi. Always use good quality olive oil, basil and pine nuts as the flavor primarily comes from these ingredients.
