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Italian · Lunch, dinner

Pasta al Pesto

Photograph of the finished dish Photograph of the finished dish
Photograph of the finished dish Photograph of the finished dish

Background

Pesto alla Genovese comes from Liguria. Traditionally pounded in a mortar, it combines basil, garlic, pine nuts, cheese, and olive oil into an uncooked sauce.

Ingredients

  • 400 g trofie, linguine, or spaghetti
  • 50 g fresh basil leaves
  • 30 g pine nuts
  • 1 small garlic clove
  • 60 g Parmigiano-Reggiano, grated
  • 20 g Pecorino, grated
  • 100 ml extra-virgin olive oil
  • Salt

How to cook

  1. Crush garlic and pine nuts, then work in basil and a pinch of salt. Mix in cheeses and oil. Alternatively, pulse briefly in a food processor without heating the sauce.
  2. Boil pasta until al dente and reserve cooking water.
  3. Thin pesto with a little warm cooking water. Toss with drained pasta off heat and serve immediately.

Recipe photographs link to their original publishers.