A delicious and easy recipe for fresh basil pesto pasta that is ready in under 30 minutes. Just boil the pasta and blend the pesto, toss it all together and it's time to eat!
Cook the pasta per package instructions. Pro Tip: place a measuring cup in your colander and you won't forget to reserve the starchy pasta water.
While the pasta cooks make the pesto sauce:
In a food processor fitted with the blade add the walnuts and garlic. Pulse about 20 times.
Add in the basil, lemon juice, and salt. Turn on the processor and slowly stream in the extra virgin olive oil through the feed tube at the top. Pro Tip: you may need to stop and scrape the side down once in a while.
Drain the pasta (reserving ½ cup of the water) and place the pasta back in the pot. Pour in the starchy cooking water, pesto, and ½ cup shredded parmesan cheese.
Using tongs toss everything together.
Give it a taste for additional salt, cheese or lemon.