Pesto Pasta

Ingredients:

For the Pesto Sauce:

- 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup pine nuts or walnuts
- 3 garlic cloves, peeled
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste

For the Pasta:

- 400g of your favorite pasta (spaghetti, fettuccine, or penne)
- Salt for boiling water
- Extra Parmesan cheese for serving (optional)
- Cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

Making the Pesto Sauce:

1. In a food processor, combine the fresh basil, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts or walnuts, and garlic cloves.

2. Pulse the ingredients until coarsely chopped.

3. With the food processor running, slowly pour in the olive oil in a steady stream until the mixture is well blended and reaches a smooth consistency.

4. Season the pesto with salt and pepper to taste. Blend once more to incorporate the seasoning.

Cooking the Pasta:

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

2. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente.

3. Before draining the pasta, reserve about 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water. This water can be used to adjust the consistency of the pesto sauce.

4. Drain the pasta and return it to the pot.

Combining Pasta and Pesto:

1. Add the prepared pesto sauce to the drained pasta. Toss the pasta until it is evenly coated with the pesto.

2. If needed, use some of the reserved pasta cooking water to achieve your desired sauce consistency.

3. Serve the pesto pasta hot, optionally garnished with extra Parmesan cheese, halved cherry tomatoes, and fresh basil leaves.

Enjoy your classic Pesto Pasta! Feel free to customize it with additional ingredients like grilled chicken, roasted vegetables, or a squeeze of lemon juice for extra flavor.

بيستو باستا 

تمتعي بمكرونة البيستو الكلاسيكية! لا تترددي في تخصيصها باستخدام مكملات إضافية مثل الدجاج المشوي، أو الخضروات المشوية، أو عصير الليمون لنكهة إضافية