Easy Pesto

Pasta

Ingredients:

  • 1 recipe homemade basil pesto, prepared with ⅓ cup olive oil,

  • 12 ounces spaghetti pasta

  • Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

  • Fresh basil leaves, for garnish

  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions:

  • Prepare the pesto according to this recipe, using ⅓ cup olive oil.

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Prepare the spaghetti according to the package instructions, cooking until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain.

  • Transfer the pasta to a large skillet. Add the pesto and ½ cup*** of the starchy pasta water and toss to coat, adding more pasta water as needed to coat the pasta in a lightly creamy sauce. If desired, gently warm the pasta over low heat.

  • Season to taste and serve topped with freshly grated Parmesan and lots of basil.

  • Notes: Store-bought vs. homemade pesto: For 12 ounces of spaghetti, I use my full pesto recipe, about 1 cup. If you're using store-bought pesto, you'll likely need less. Start with 1/3 cup and add more to taste.