The pasta of your dreams!
I absolutely love fresh basil in the summer. I like to cook with lots of fresh local herbs in the summertime. I grow basil in the garden every summer and love adding it to salads, tomato sauces, sandwiches, pastas... and of course as the star ingredient in pesto!
This pesto recipe can be adapted to accommodate your dietary preferences- if you'd like, try out nutritional yeast for a non-dairy cheesy taste. Add this pesto as a spread for sandwiches, in a pasta salad, or as a simple side pasta dish for your summer meals.
Let me know how you find this!
You'll need:
2 servings of pasta of choice
For the Pesto: 2 cups packed basil 1⁄4 cup walnuts 3 tbsp nutritional yeast (or regular parmesan)
1/4 cup olive oil salt, pepper to taste 2 cloves garlic 1.5 tbsp lemon juice
How-to:
1. Cook your pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside. 2. Wash the basil. 3. In a food processor or blender, blend the basil, walnuts, parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast, salt, pepper, garlic and lemon juice until mixed together but still chunky. Slowly add in the oil, continuing to mix. Stop blending when there is still some texture to the pesto.
*if you use nutritional yeast, you may need to add in an extra tablespoon of lemon juice and more salt to taste.
4. Toss your pasta in the pesto, and serve with a sprinkle of cheese and more pepper. Enjoy!