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Quick, Easy, Healthy Pasta al pesto.

Pasta al Pesto

Pasta al Pesto is a quick, versatile, and delicious weeknight meal that combines fresh, homemade pesto with your favorite pasta for a satisfying dish that can be easily customized and prepared in just 15 minutes.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course lunch, Main Course, Meal Prep
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4 servings
Calories 374 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 300 g Linguine, uncooked (or your favorite pasta)
  • 50 g Sunflower Seeds - or other nut or seed (½ cup)
  • 2 Garlic Cloves
  • 30 g Parmesan (¼ cup)
  • 2 tbsp Lemon Juice
  • 50 g Olive Oil (¼ cup)
  • 80 g Fresh Basil (2 cups)
  • Salt to taste

Instructions
 

  • Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente (7-10 minutes)
  • Meanwhile, blend the sunflower seeds, basil, garlic, parmesan, olive oil, and lemon juice and salt in a food processor until smooth. Add more water or olive oil to reach your desired consistency.
  • Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of pasta water.
  • Toss the cooked pasta with the pesto and a splash of reserved pasta water to create a silky sauce. Add in any desired vegetables or protein.
  • Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan or fresh herbs, if desired.

Video

Notes

TIPS & NOTES
  • Save Pasta Water: Reserve some pasta cooking water to help emulsify the pesto and create a smooth, creamy sauce.
  • Use Fresh Ingredients: For the best flavor, use fresh basil and high-quality olive oil in your pesto.
  • Adjust to Taste: Feel free to tweak the pesto ingredients, like adding more garlic or lemon juice, to suit your preferences.
  • Undercook Pasta for Meal Prep: If making this dish ahead of time, undercook the pasta by a minute or two to keep it from getting mushy when reheated.
  • Pesto Versatility: Pesto isn’t just for pasta! Use leftovers as a spread for sandwiches, a dip for veggies, or a topping for grilled meats.
 
 
MORE INFO:
 
Read the blog post for a more in-depth explanation of how to make this Pasta al Pesto and more tips and storage instructions.
 
 
 
 
NUTRITIONAL INFO:
 
These nutritional values are provided as a guide only and may be different depending on your ingredients and measurements.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Pasta al Pesto
Serving Size
 
1 serving
Amount per Serving
Calories
374
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
11.9
g
18
%
Carbohydrates
 
58.6
g
20
%
Protein
 
10.6
g
21
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Keyword Linguine with Pesto, Pasta al Pesto, Pasta with Pesto, Pesto Linguine, Pesto Pasta
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