Description
This Juicy Pesto Pasta recipe is a simple and flavorful dish featuring homemade pesto tossed with perfectly cooked pasta and a splash of pasta cooking water to create a silky, saucy texture. Ideal for a quick, satisfying meal that serves 3 to 4 people, this dish can be easily customized with your favorite pasta shapes and topped generously with Parmesan cheese for extra richness.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pasta
- 300 – 350 g / 10 – 12 oz pasta of choice (ziti, penne, spaghetti recommended)
- 2 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup pasta cooking water
For the Sauce
- 1 quantity homemade pesto (refer to Note 1)
- Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Boil the Pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil with 2 teaspoons of salt to season the pasta water adequately.
- Cook the Pasta: Add your chosen pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package instructions until al dente.
- Reserve Pasta Water: Just before draining, use a cup to scoop out 1 cup of the starchy pasta cooking water and set it aside.
- Drain the Pasta: Drain the pasta using a colander and allow it to sit for a minute to slightly cool and prevent overcooking.
- Transfer Pasta to Bowl: Move the drained pasta into a separate bowl (avoid the hot pasta pot to prevent residual heat from continuing to cook the pasta).
- Add Pesto and Water: Add your homemade pesto along with 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta water. Toss thoroughly to coat the pasta, adding more pasta water as needed to achieve a silky and saucy consistency rather than a dry or sticky one.
- Season to Taste: Taste the pasta and adjust seasoning by adding more salt and freshly ground pepper if desired.
- Serve: Immediately serve the pasta garnished with freshly grated Parmesan cheese for an extra layer of flavor.
Notes
- Note 1: Homemade pesto can be made using fresh basil, pine nuts, garlic, Parmesan, olive oil, and salt blended until smooth.
- Note 2: Pasta shapes like ziti, penne, and spaghetti work best for this recipe as they hold the pesto sauce well.