This easy-to-make pesto pasta is a perfect meal for a weeknight dinner! It is my personal preference to add a handful of arugula, but you can use any of your favourite soft greens instead.
You can have it hot or cold, whatever you like. It won’t take you more than 30 minutes to get ready! Simply cook the pasta and make the basil pesto, put it all together, and your dinner is ready. It may be used as a side dish or as a main course too.
Table of Contents
Ingredients For Pesto Pasta
- 6 ounces spaghetti, reserve 1/2 cup starchy pasta water
- 1/3 to 1/2 cup basil pesto or vegan pesto
- Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
- Fresh lemon juice, as desired
- 4 cups arugula
- 2 tablespoons pine nuts
- Pinches of red pepper flakes
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Freshly grated Parmesan or vegan Parmesan
Directions to Make Pesto Pasta
- According to the guidelines on the box, cook the pasta in a big saucepan of salted boiling water.
- Before draining, save 1/2 cup of the starchy cooking liquid. After draining, mix the spaghetti with a little hint of olive oil.
- Add the pesto and 1/4 cup of the saved pasta water to a large pan over low heat and whisk to mix.
- If extra pasta water is required to make a loose sauce, add it along with the pasta and toss it to coat. The thickness of your pesto will determine how much water is required.
- Turn off the heat and Add the salt, pepper, and lemon juice to taste.
- Now, add the arugula, tossing until just beginning to wilt. Serve after adding the pine nuts and red pepper flakes as garnish.
Recipe Notes!
- If you want your pasta juicy and saucy, use only boiled pasta water.
- To make your pasta creamy, add heavy cream which is totally optional.
- Pesto Sauce shouldn’t be used for hearty dishes. While the pasta is still hot, and away from the heat, combine the pesto sauce.
- Due to oxidation, pesto turns black when exposed to air for a prolonged period.
- The pesto sauce shouldn’t be processed in the food processor for too long or it will become bitter.
- Feel free to choose whichever pasta you want and cover it with the green pesto sauce. I prefer penne(the tubular shape) or spaghetti (the long noodle shape).
- If you want your pasta to be a healthy meal, feel free to add some mixed vegetables. Simply boil the veggies and toss them into the finished product.
Nutrition Content
- Calories: 542kcal
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Protein: 13g
- Fat: 36g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Cholesterol: 36mg
- Sodium: 1875mg
- Potassium: 351mg
- Sugar: 3g
- Calcium: 158mg
- Iron: 2mg
To Sum Up
It is such a great dish to eat on a cold winter night when you want something hearty but not too heavy. I hope that you enjoy this Creamy Pesto Sauce Pasta. It is a delicious, healthy, and easy meal that the whole family will love!
If you have questions about the recipe or want to share your version of pesto pasta, please feel free to comment. Don’t forget to share it with your friends and family, I am sure they’ll love it too.
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