For more simple pasta recipes, check out my Pasta with Smoked Salmon. As soon as there is even a glimpse of sunshine, I want my dinner to go along with summer loveliness. And for me it’s all about bold taste, vibrant colours and loads of vitamin packed vegetables like this Pesto Pasta. Its fresh taste delivered by impossibly green homemade basil pesto, bursting with juicy red and yellow cherry tomatoes and peppery rocket. Served with grilled basil chicken it’s a perfect protein+veg+carb combination that is light and filling!
Making homemade pesto
Traditional pesto is blend of fresh basil, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts and oil. I have used almonds in place of pine nuts and Grana Padano instead of Parmesan in this pesto recipe. If you have a food processor or a blender, you are all set for making the freshest and the best tasting pesto at home. To achieve the the right balance of flavour, you will have to rely on your own taste and cooking instincts. This recipe provides you with the basic ingredient ratio, however, it is very important to always taste the final product and adjust the seasoning like salt, garlic and lemon juice for the best results, that are pleasing to your palate.
Vegetables to add
Pesto has a predominantly basil taste, and the combination of basil and tomatoes is absolutely classic. Cherry tomatoes of various colours add so much flavour and sweetness, not to mention the vibrancy to this pesto pasta. I also love adding arugula to my pasta dishes, or as it is known in the UK, rocket. Arugula is loaded with vitamin C and is an important antioxidant. Apart from its nutritious benefits, it brings a pleasant peppery taste to balance out creamy dishes. If you are not a fan of arugula, spinach is a perfect alternative.
What pasta shape is best for pesto?
While Italians will argue about very specific pasta being paired with various sauces, I believe even they will agree that pesto goes with almost any shape of pasta. The ones that have a hole in the middle are especially recommended for the sauce to climb inside! I like using short pasta like rigatoni when I make a dish that has many elements since it’s easier to toss everything together without breaking up delicate pastas like spaghetti or linguine.
More pasta recipes
Creamy Pasta with Pancetta and Peas Pasta Cream Sauce Shrimp Penne alla Vodka Mediterranean Pasta with Zucchini Goats Cheese Pasta with Spinach and Pine Nuts
