A spring-fresh pasta ready in less than 30 minutes.
Creamy Pesto Pasta
- Begin by cooking pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water – 2 tablespoons-ish. Allow to cook until al dente; drain well and return to pot or large mixing bowl.
- Use any type of pasta you wish. Instead of my regular go to of penne or even fettuccine, I went with long fusilli.
- Combine basil, parmesan, pine nuts, garlic, kosher salt and pepper into a food processor.
- Pour olive oil in as it blends for about a minute or so; using more if needed.
- Refrain from stopping here and eating the pesto with bread 😆 and set aside.
- Melt butter in a saucepan on medium heat.
- Once melted, add half and half and a dash of nutmeg.
- Stir well and reduce heat to low, so the mixture doesn’t scorch. Allow to simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add the pesto into the pot of cream sauce and stir well. Feel free to add more cheese if you want at this point.
- Pour the creamy pesto sauce over the pasta and stir to coat evenly.
- Serve immediately, garnish with parmesan and parsley, if desired.
This plates very well alone but I also suggest serving with your favorite light protein.
Of course…
I served it with pan seared shrimp … because shrimp.
Creamy Pesto Pasta Recipe
A spring-ready pasta that can be ready in less than 30 minutes.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup basil leaves
- 1/4 cup pine nuts
- 1/2 cup parmesan
- 1/2 half and half
- 1/3 olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 lb pasta cavatappi, fusilli, or penne, etc
- 1 dash nutmeg
- Kosher salt to taste
- Cracked black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente; drain well and return to pot or large mixing bowl.
- Combine basil, parmesan, pine nuts, garlic, kosher salt and pepper into a food processor. Pour olive oil in as it blends for about a minute or so; using more if needed.
- Melt butter in a saucepan on medium heat. Once melted, add heavy cream and a dash of nutmeg. Stir well and reduce heat to low. Allow to simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add the pesto into cream sauce and stir well. Pour the creamy pesto sauce over the pasta and stir to coat evenly.
- Serve immediately, garnish with parmesan and parsley, if desired.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!