Faqs About Pesto Pasta
Which pasta is best with pesto?
I really enjoy using thick spaghetti noodles in this pesto pasta recipe! However the sky is the limit with what pasta you can use! Here are some suggestions: – Spaghetti noodles: like I said, bucatini is my favorite. But angel hair, tagiatelle, linguine, etc. –Shaped pasta: bow ties , rigatoni, fusilli, wheels , etc. –Chickpea pasta is a great gluten-free option! – Use zucchini noodles for a veggie version.
Can I eat pesto pasta cold?
You can serve this pasta warm or cold! To serve it cold just store it in the refrigerator until it cools!
Should pesto be heated?
You should not heat the pesto sauce, because it will change the color, taste and texture of the fresh basil. This is why I recommend keeping the pasta warm. The pasta itself will “heat” the pesto without changing its composition!
Have You Ever Noticed That Every Summer There Is A New Hot Food Or Ingredient That Is Hyped By All The Cooking Magazines
Im going to date myself here but I remember one year it was sun dried tomatoes, another year it was polenta, and yet another year it was anything Asian, then Mediterranean, then Southwestern, and so on and so on. This year olive oils and flavored vinegar from California are big as well as rubs for barbecues.
One of my favorites from years ago and still popular today is pesto. There was a summer back in New York City when you could always find a dish on the menu that had a variation of pesto.
There was pasta with pesto, pesto on pizza, pesto sauce for fish, pesto vinaigrette for salads, black bean pesto, red bean pesto, cilantro pesto, arugula pesto, pesto, pesto, pesto. Get the idea?
Summer is the time of year when gardens are full of pestos essential ingredient and what the Greeks called the royal herb or as we know it, basil. If you dont grow it, you can often find it at farmers markets in great big bunches for a fraction of the cost that you pay for it in the winter when its sold in those tiny plastic bags.
How To Keep Pesto Bright Green
Another alluring quality to this pesto is its bright green color. To keep it bright for a few days, blanch the mint and parsley briefly in boiling water, and then shock them in an ice water bath. The boiling water kills the browning enzymes that quickly cause the leavesand the resulting pestoto turn a drab olive color.
A trace amount of the flavor leeches out in the process, but this is also what makes the mint mellow instead of overpowering. Plus, we eat with our eyes, so I vote for blanching. You can also use this method for basil pesto or any other green herb you use in pesto.
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Easy Pesto Pasta Primavera Recipe
This pasta primavera recipe is for all the veggie lovers!
A combination of vegetables and pasta strands are each coated in a simple pesto sauce to create a simple yet fresh-tasting meal!
These days I love a good pasta primavera recipe because it comes together simply. I feel as though this is one of those meals where you open your fridge and mix whatever is inside with whatever pasta you have in your pantry and call it a meal! It sounds so exotic, expensive, and fancy but its actually incredibly frugal and simple.
How To Serve Pesto Cream Sauce With Pasta
This pesto cream sauce recipe makes enough for 1 cup of sauce, enough to cover 8 ounces of pasta. You might find that it can work with more pasta: we just like ours to be good and saucy. You can use any type of pasta noodle, from long noodles like linguine and bucatini to short noodles like penne and cavatappi. Here are a few things to note about serving it with pasta:
- Toss it together in a bowl. Just like with our pesto spaghetti, we like tossing pesto and pasta in a bowl instead of the hot pasta pot. The pasta can get too sticky and dry in a pasta pot.
- Dont add pasta water. With our pesto pasta recipes, we usually add a little pasta water to make a slick sauce to coat the pasta. You dont have to do that here, because the pesto is already watered down with the cream.
- After adding pesto cream sauce, add salt to taste. The salt level you need will depend on the pesto you use and how much you salted the pasta water before cooking . Taste the pasta and then add just enough kosher salt until it pops.
This sauce would also be great with seafood like Baked Salmon or Pan Seared Scallops.
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More Ways To Use Pesto
So that’s how to make penne pasta with pesto sauce. Of course, there are so many other things to make with pesto beyond pastas. Yes, here are just some of of places for pesto. Try pesto:
- On pizza in place of or in addition to the red sauce
- Added to a cream sauce or Alfredo sauce
When you have pesto on hand, quick, healthy dinners are within your grasp. Don’t miss these 12 Pesto Dinners Ready in 30 Minutes or Less.
Blender Vs Food Processor
My first choice for making this pesto is with a food processor. It makes easy work and pulls everything together quickly. If you dont have a food processor then all is not lost. You can make pesto in a blender, it just takes a little extra work.
To make this pesto in a blender, pack about half the mint and parsley leaves in the bottom of the blender pitcher and add the water. Keep blending, stopping, stirring, and scraping until they are well chopped. Add more leaves and the olive oil, repeating the stopping and stirring until chopped. Add the nuts last, and be patient!
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How To Make Pesto Cream Saucein 5 Minutes
Yes, all you need is 5 minutes for this easy recipe! In fact, you barely need to even cook. Heres what to do:
- Place the ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Stir occasionally and heat until the sauce starts to thicken, about 3 to 4 minutes. Just when it starts to bubble, it will start to become thick and glossy.
- Heres the important part: Immediately remove it from the heat once it thickens! Otherwise it can start to brown and become very sticky.
The Secret Ingredient In This Basil Pesto Pasta Recipe
There is only one more ingredient we haven’t talked about with this pesto and pasta recipe. The ingredient that you will see that is a little different from other pesto and pasta recipes is the addition of balsamic vinegar.
This to me is very important and it really adds a depth of flavor that I feel pesto pasta lacks.
Pesto on its own is bold and full flavored but once it is mixed with pasta it dulls the flavors a bit. The balsamic vinegar helps wake those flavors back up and adds a faint touch of sweetness in the background.
It is just a little that you add so don’t worry that it will be too much.
You will see many recipes that just add lemon juice right into the pesto to brighten up the flavors and that works too but this is my preference and so good!
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How To Use Mint Pesto
That versatility I just mentioned? Here are a few ideas!
- Smear it on a baguette with goat cheese for a sandwich.
- Swirl it into yogurt for a tasty dipping sauce for vegetables.
- Place a slice of feta on a cracker and dollop a little mint pesto on top.
- Mix mint pesto and feta into ground lamb for a tasty lamb burger.
- Toss it with warm small red or b-sized potatoes.
- Spread some over broiled or grilled fish.
How To Store & Freeze Pesto
Use the pesto immediately or store it in a tightly sealed jar or air-tight plastic container, covered with a thin layer of olive oil . It will keep in the refrigerator for about a week.
Pesto can also be frozen in an airtight container for up to 6 months. I suggest dividing it into the compartments of an ice cube tray and freezing. Once frozen, remove the cubes from the tray and put in a sealable plastic bag or airtight container. You can add the defrosted cubes to soups, pasta or zoodle dishes, pizza, eggs, sandwiches, and potatoes.
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Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe#
This pesto pasta salad is so easy to put together. Its made with fresh ingredients that smell and taste amazing. I love basil. The smell, the taste, the look of it. It is so fresh and instantly adds brightness to any dish. The combination of basil with the garlic in the pesto sauce is enough to make me feel like I am in foodie heaven. And I love the fresh cheese and veggies that really take this pasta salad over the top.The pesto sauce is super easy to put together, just add the ingredients to a food processor, and youre all set. If you dont have a food processor, then you can use a mortar and pestle to grind the ingredients together. Use this summer pasta salad as a side at any potluck, BBQ or get-together, and your guests will thank you later!
Can You Make A Healthy Cream Sauce With Milk
Great question! In fact, our standard Parmesan Cream Sauce recipe is made with milk instead of heavy cream. Heavy cream is high in calories, so we wouldnt call this a health food. Its more of a summertime treat made with your favorite pesto.
But, you can lighten it up with milk! Use the same quantity whole milk or 2% milk. The sauce wont be nearly as rich, but it will still taste great.
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No need for store-bought pesto anymore. This recipe is so easy with just 5 ingredients. And it takes just 5 min to make too!
I somehow always have extra basil on hand so Ive found myself making pesto on a weekly basis. Its one of the easiest things to make with the help of a food processor and it requires so little ingredients! Plus, having a jar of pesto in your fridge is always a life saver for those busy weeknights. All you have to do is cook up some pasta, slather on that pesto and sprinkle on some Parmesan. Done and done.
Now if youre used to store-bought pesto, believe me when I tell you that this homemade version will change your life. Its just so much more vibrant and fresh, and you can control exactly how runny or thick you want your pesto to be. Just be sure to add more olive oil until your desired consistency is reached.
I should also tell you that this is best made when using a food processor, not a blender. I have tried using a blender and the consistency just isnt the same. And I know that pine nuts can be a bit pricey but one small 8-ounce bag of pine nuts will last you a lifetime. And it gives you an excuse to make more pesto for next time!
How To Make Pesto Cavatappi
You can jump to the recipe card for full ingredients & instructions!
Can I use any type of noodle?
Classic pesto cavatappi from Noodles & Company is made with cavatappi noodles, but you can certainly use your favorite kind of noodle or whatever you have on hand.
Can I use zucchini noodles?
Definitely! For a healthier alternative, use zucchini noodles. Add them to the sauce in step 6. Mix together and heat until warmed through.
What kind of pesto should I use?
Any store bought or homemade pesto works great. I love this homemade pesto recipe it adds so much fresh flavor!
Can I add protein?
Yes! I love serving this pesto pasta with chicken or shrimp. Add your cooked protein of choice to the pan in step 6. Mix to combine with the pasta and heat until warmed through.
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Classic Basil Pesto Pasta Recipe
Looking for a new go-to pasta dish to wow your family or friends without breaking the bank or spending hours in the kitchen? If so, look no further than this classic basil pesto pasta. This recipe includes step-by-step instructions on how to whip up a flavorful and easy pesto sauce, and cooking the pasta is a no-brainer since you just need to cook it according to the instructions on the box.
Recipe developer Catherine Brookes of Blue Sky Eating came up with this classic and wonderful basil pesto pasta recipe that checks all of the boxes. “Pesto pasta is such a classic, simple dish packed with flavor and making your own pesto from scratch couldn’t be easier,” Brookes raves. The easier, the better, right? And while this specific recipe is for pasta, you can make a little extra pesto to use for other recipes as well. Brookes shares that it “would definitely be great spread on toast or as a dip for veggies, crackers, etc. You can also use it on pizza.” How good does that sound?
Keep reading to find out how to make this classic basil pesto pasta recipe.
Can Pasta Primavera Be Frozen
The short answer is yes. However, it really depends on the vegetables you use for this recipe. If you use broccoli, peas, and peppers, then the pasta can be placed in an airtight container and frozen for up to a month. When ready, add butter and garlic to a deep skillet. Add the frozen pasta and heat until warmed through, turning to coat. Stir with Parmesan cheese.
If your primavera contains zucchini, yellow squash, or mushrooms, then I would avoid freezing this pasta as the vegetables would be too soft.
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Can I Use Other Veggies
Yes, of course! You could use broccoli, zucchini, or asparagus in place of the green beans. Any vegetable or mixture of vegetables will work. Just keep in mind that different vegetables have different cooking times. You also want to keep the amounts of ingredients about the same when you make changes to any recipe.
How To Make Store Bought Pesto Better
If you are working with store bought pesto for this recipe, there are some ways to make it taste better. Even if it is your favorite brand and already delicious on its own.
Here are my tips for adding a little more flavor to store bought pesto.
- Add additional finely shredded Parmesan. I will usually eyeball this but I like to add around ¼ cup of very finely grated Parmesan to the pesto.
- Add a little balsamic vinegar to brighten up the flavors. I give my recommendations for the amounts I like to use below.
- Add a little fresh lemon juice. You only need to squeeze about ½ of a lemon into the store bought pesto.
- Add a little extra salt. Sometimes store bought pesto just needs a little salt. I like to use kosher salt and I start with just a pinch of this until it it seasoned to my taste.
- Olive oil. Sometimes store bought pesto is too thick. When this happens, I like to add a tablespoon or so of extra virgin olive oil and mix it well.
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How To Make Pesto Pasta Sauce
Making homemade pesto pasta sauce is so easy. Start by placing the basil, pine nuts, parmesan cheese, garlic, spinach, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons of olive oil into a food processor or high powered blender. Blend until nearly smooth, making sure to scrape down the sides of the food processor with a spatula as necessary. Drizzle the remaining olive oil into the mixture while processing until smooth.
Can I Make Pesto With Dried Basil
- Fresh basil creates the essential taste and texture for pesto, which you can’t get from dried basil. However, you can certainly make a quick pasta dish featuring traditional pesto ingredients — slivered or chopped garlic, olive oil, pine nuts, and grated cheese, along with dried basil instead of fresh — in a deconstructed “pesto” pasta dish that also doesn’t require a food processor or mortar and pestle. Here’s a related recipe for Elegant Orzo with Wilted Spinach and Pine Nuts, which you could use as a base for experimentation.
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Faqs Related To Basil Pesto Pasta
How to store leftover basil pesto?
Transfer the pesto to an airtight container, drizzle some olive oil to cover the top, place a cling foil to cover the layer of olive oil. Close the lid of the container and store it in the refrigerator for 2 3 days. The color of the sauce might change after a day or so.
Can I eat raw pesto sauce?
Pesto sauce can be consumed either raw or cooked. It can be used as a dip, salad dressing, or as a gluten-free sandwich spread.
Can I reheat basil pesto pasta?
You can re-heat the pesto pasta on a stove-top or microwave. However, this may impact the taste, and color of the pasta. It will not be as fresh and flavourful. It is best to cook and serve immediately.
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