Mediterranean Juicy Pesto Pasta
If you have been following the Mediterranean diet, then, for sure, you are very much familiar with this recipe. It involves ingredients that are helpful in the prevention or treatment of inflammation in the body. It also keeps your heart strong and healthy, while protecting you against chronic diseases.
Pesto pasta is very easy to make. In fact, anyone can whip out this delicious lunch recipe without any hassle. You just have to know some tricks so your meal won’t be dry, and you won’t be tempted to add more oil and make it too greasy. The sauce is mainly made out of Parmigiano-Reggiano, basil, pine nuts, and lots of garlic, which, as we all know, comes with a number of health benefits. Once you have all the ingredients, mix them all using a blender to form a thick puree.
Pesto is packed with antioxidants. It also contains calcium. And since it has pine nuts and garlic in it, it can help normalize your blood pressure. With this in mind, you can clearly tell that adding pesto to your diet allows you to enjoy many health benefits. So without further ado, here is how you can create a juicy pesto pasta for lunch:
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Juicy Pesto Pasta
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
Homemade, full of flavor, and juicy pesto pasta that you will never forget…
Ingredients
16 oz. pasta
2 1/2 tbsp. pesto sauce
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 tbsp. parmesan cheese
1/2 cup onion (chopped)
salt and pepper
Instructions
- Cook pasta for about 8 to 12 minutes in boiling water. Once preferred doneness is achieved, drain.
- Heat the olive oil in a skillet on medium-low heat. Add chopped onions, pesto, as well as salt and pepper to taste. Wait until onions are soft.
- Combine the pesto mixture with pasta in a large bowl and top with grated cheese before serving.
Notes
You can use any pasta of your choice, but penne or ziti is the best. Spaghetti pasta is good too.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Cuisine: Italian
What’s the Trick to Keep Your Pesto Pasta Juicy?
Most people tend to add more olive oil when they see that their pasta is dry. But this makes it too greasy, which is not really recommended. Your aim here is to create a juicy pesto pasta. So instead of adding more grease, add pasta cooking water. Yes, that’s the secret! This will help coat every bit of the pasta nicely. You can also add more of the sauce if needed.
Just so you know, adding pesto cooking water is being done by almost all Italian restaurants!
Which Pasta is the Best to Use?
Like what we have said earlier, you can utilize any pasta that you want, but ziti and penne are highly recommended. You are also free to use pasta with long strands. As much as possible, avoid using twirls, since those have more surface to coat.
Closing Thoughts
Needless to say, pesto pasta is a great lunch recipe. It’s also good for dinner. It’s the sauce that makes a huge difference, so it is advisable that you make it yourself.
