Description
This easy pesto pasta recipe combines homemade basil pesto with perfectly cooked spaghetti for a quick, flavorful vegetarian dinner. Tossed with fresh Parmesan and basil, it’s a simple yet elegant meal ready in just 25 minutes.
Ingredients
Pesto
- 1 recipe homemade basil pesto prepared with ⅓ cup olive oil (or store-bought pesto, about 1/3 cup to start)
Pasta
- 12 ounces spaghetti pasta
- Sea salt, for pasta water
To Serve
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, as desired
- Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the pesto: Make the homemade basil pesto using ⅓ cup olive oil according to your preferred recipe. Alternatively, measure about 1/3 cup of store-bought pesto to start.
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 12 ounces of spaghetti and cook according to package instructions until al dente, usually about 8-10 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta cooking water before draining the pasta.
- Toss pasta with pesto: Transfer the drained spaghetti to a large skillet. Add the prepared pesto and ½ cup of the reserved pasta water. Toss thoroughly to coat the pasta evenly, adding more pasta water if needed to achieve a light, creamy sauce.
- Warm and season: If you prefer, gently warm the pasta and pesto over low heat for a minute or two to meld flavors. Season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Serve: Plate the pesto pasta and top generously with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves. Serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Store-bought vs. homemade pesto: For 12 ounces of spaghetti, the full homemade pesto recipe makes about 1 cup. Start with 1/3 cup store-bought pesto and add more as needed since store-bought varieties can vary in intensity.
- Pasta shape: Spaghetti works beautifully, but you can substitute with other pasta shapes like penne or farfalle. Use slightly less pesto with short pasta shapes, starting with half a pesto recipe.
- Pasta water: Adjust the amount of pasta water you add based on the texture of your pesto. Thinner or oilier pestos may require less water to reach the desired creamy consistency.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
