Pesto Pasta

Gunjan Chopra -

Today we are bringing you a delicious delight of pesto pasta which will be a complete stress buster from everyday routine. The recipe of pesto for pasta is simple and minimalistic, yet tastes absolutely amazing.

Traditional pesto is made up of basil, pine nuts, olive oil, garlic and parmesan cheese. We’ve also given a seasonal twist with the spinach to make it more flavorful. You can also add seasonal summer produce like zucchini, cherry tomatoes and coloured bell papers as per your preference.

Try out our new “pesto with pasta” recipe and feel bliss in every bite.

Here comes the FAQs cum Fun Facts

Before starting with the recipe, let’s dive into some quick FAQs cum fun facts related to this dish-

  • What is Pesto?
    The word “pesto” is a generic term for any uncooked sauce made by crushing or grinding ingredients into a paste.

  • How did pesto get its name?
    Pesto comes from the word pesta or pestare meaning “to pound” or crush, which originates from the Genoese language in Italy.

  • Who invented pesto?
    Pesto is a kind of sauce that originated in Liguria, Italy. It is mainly made of crushed basil. Other ingredients are garlic, salt, pine nuts or walnuts and certain kinds of cheese.

  • What are the different variations of pesto?
    Any fresh, flavorful herbs or leafy greens can stand in for basil. Other greens that you can include in your pesto are spinach, arugula, oregano, parsley, cilantro etc.

  • What flavour is pesto?
    Pesto can be fairly smooth to quite chunky in texture, and is often a vivid green colour, due to the crushed basil.

  • Do you know about “The World Pesto Championship”?
    Every two years, it is organized by the Cultural Association of Italian Gourmets where contestants compete for the crown of world pesto champion.

  • What are the other ways to use up pesto sauce?
    Just a spoonful of pesto can transform the dish and imparts a new flavour. It is commonly used as a sauce tossed with pasta though it can also be used in sandwiches or wraps, on pizzas, salad dressings or on roasted vegetables.

Incredible Benefits of Basil

The main ingredient of pesto i.e. basil carries incredible benefits. It is anti-bacterial, antispasmodic, anti-viral and has wonderful healing properties. It also helps in balancing acid within the body and restores the body’s proper pH level.

The herb acts as an excellent skin cleanser and helps in removing dirt and impurities that clog pores. It is also one of the most beneficial herbs for preventing colds, flu and coughs.

Therefore basil deserves every honour for being an exemplary and exceptional medical herb.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup chopped basil
  • 1/2 cup chopped spinach
  • 3/4 cup crushed walnuts
  • 1 tbsp roughly chopped garlic
  • 1/2 cup cheese cubes
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 tsp chopped green chillies
  • 1 and 1/2 cups cooked pasta
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp grated processed cheese (for garnish)
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • Salt to taste

How to prepare

  • First blanch fresh basil leaves and spinach in salted boiling water for about 2 minutes on a medium flame.
  • Drain and refresh it with cold water. This will help keep the leaves green. Allow it to cool.
  • Once cooled, squeeze the water from the basil and spinach and place it into the mixer.
  • Add to that crushed walnuts, chopped garlic cloves, cheese cubes, milk and green chillies in a mixer and blend to a smooth paste. Keep aside.
  • Heat the olive oil in a broad non-stick pan; add the pasta and sauté on a medium flame for 1 to 2 minutes.
  • Add the prepared pesto, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 1 to 2 minutes, while stirring occasionally. Season it with black pepper and salt to taste.
  • You can season it with oregano and red chilly flakes also as per your preference.
  • Garnish it with grated processed cheese.