Meals (Lunch & Dinner)

Easy Italian Basil Pesto Spaghetti Pasta

Basil Pesto Spaghetti Pasta is a lip-smacking traditional Italian dish bursting with aromatic herb’s flavors. Basil pesto spaghetti is a very quick and easy recipe and is filled with nutrients. It’s an incredible way to make your kids have greens as well.

Serves 2 people

Cooking time 20 minutes

INGREDIENTS

  • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 200 gm basil leaves
  • 10 garlic cloves
  • 6-7 black pepper, freshly crushed
  • 1 cup of grated parmesan cheese
  • 3 tbsp pine nuts
  • Salt to taste
  • 250 gm whole wheat spaghetti pasta

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. For the pesto sauce, in a mortar and pestle or a grinding stone crush garlic cloves.
  2. Add basil leaves and crush them nicely into a thick paste or sauce.
  3. Add grated parmesan cheese and keep crushing. Add pepper and salt and mix at this point.
  4. Add 2 tbsp of olive oil and mix into a smooth sauce.
  5. Boil whole wheat spaghetti pasta hot water for 15-20 minutes or until it has biting consistency.
  6. Strain the water and transfer the spaghetti in the plate and mix the pesto sauce with it.
  7. Sprinkle olive oil on top with some grated cheese.
  8. Serve hot with garlic bread or as is.

RECIPE NOTES

  1. Pesto means “to crush” and that is why it is advisable to use a mortar and pestle (preferably a marble one) for crushing the ingredients to make the pesto but in case you don’t have one, you can grind all the ingredients in a mixer grinder.
  2. If you don’t have pine nuts you can use almonds, walnuts or pistachios as well.
  3. Traditionally, in Italian cooking, parmesan cheese is pretty much the best option for this. However, in case it’s not available at your place, use what works best for you.

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