Homemade Basil Pesto Pasta

Cuisine
Written By Chapters & Cuisine

I'm thrilled to write my first blog post, and I'm even happier because it's about my favorite homemade basil pesto pasta. I adore every kind of pesto, but basil pesto holds a special place in my heart. For this recipe, I prefer thick pasta noodles like Linguine or Mafaldine because they really allow you to savor the richness of the sauce. To add some protein, I included chicken cutlets from Eataly, and the combination was simply AMAZING. Although I've tried basil pesto pasta at many restaurants, the homemade version is by far the best.

Ingredients for Basil Pesto (for 2):

  • Fresh basil 75g

  • Pine nuts 30g

  • Pecorino cheese 10g

  • Parmigiano cheese 10g

  • Olive oil 60g (1/4 cup)

  • Garlic 2 gloves

  • Salt

For the pesto, I used a Ninja chopper to grind all the ingredients together. Here’s the step-by-step process:

  1. Start with Garlic, Pine Nuts, and Salt: Take 2 cloves of garlic, a handful of pine nuts, and a pinch of salt. Grind them together until you get a coarse mixture.

  2. Add Fresh Basil: Next, add fresh basil leaves and grind them together with the garlic and pine nuts mixture until well combined.

  3. Incorporate Olive Oil: Add olive oil while grinding until the mixture becomes creamy. Using high-quality olive oil is crucial—it truly makes a difference!

  4. Add Cheeses: Finally, add grated Pecorino and Parmigiano cheeses and grind everything together until smooth.

Note: Here is the link for the Ninja food chopper! (https://amzn.to/3Wwzxxr)

Now you have your homemade fresh basil pesto!

Putting it All Together:

  1. Boil Your Pasta: Choose your favorite pasta noodles. This time, I went with Mafaldine. Cook them according to the package instructions.

  2. Mix with Pesto: Once the pasta is cooked, drain it and place it in a bowl. Mix it with your homemade basil pesto.

    Note: Avoid using heat for the pesto to preserve its fresh flavors.

  3. Final Touches: Add a drizzle of olive oil and some extra cheese on top for an extra burst of flavor.

And there you have it—homemade basil pesto pasta that’s fresh, flavorful, and sure to impress. Enjoy!

Chapters & Cuisine