Few dishes prove that simple ingredients can create incredible flavor quite like pasta with pesto. This classic Italian recipe combines fresh basil, garlic, olive oil, nuts, and cheese into a vibrant green sauce that coats warm pasta perfectly. Originating in Genoa, pesto has long been used to dress pasta because its bright, herbal flavor pairs beautifully with noodles. Whether you're cooking a quick weeknight dinner or looking for a light and satisfying meal, this easy recipe shows how a handful of fresh ingredients can turn into something truly delicious.

Enjoy this pasta dish for your next family dinner!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups fresh basil leaves

• 4 garlic cloves, chopped

• 1 cup pine nuts, walnuts or pecans, toasted

• 3/4 cup good-quality olive oil

• 1/2 cup (2 ounces) freshly grated Parmesan cheese

• 1/2 cup (2 ounces) freshly grated Romano cheese

• Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

• 1 pound hot cooked pasta

Step 1:

Process the basil, garlic and pine nuts in a food processor fitted with a steel blade or in batches in a blender until finely chopped.  Add the olive oil gradually, processing constantly until incorporated. 

Step 2:

Add the Parmesan cheese, Romano cheese, salt and a generous grinding of pepper and process just until combined.  Spoon approximately 1/2 to 3/4 cup of the pesto over hot cooked pasta on a serving platter.  Store the leftovers, covered. in the refrigerator.

Pasta with pesto is proof that great cooking doesn’t have to be complicated. With just a few fresh ingredients and a few minutes in the kitchen, you can create a vibrant, satisfying meal that tastes like it came straight from Italy. Once you try it, this simple pesto pasta may become one of your go-to recipes for quick, flavorful dinners.