Pasta pesto

Pasta pesto

45 min
This pasta pesto recipe is a testament to the beauty of simplicity, showcasing the harmonious blend of flavours and textures that make Italian cuisine so beloved. This simple yet scrumptious recipe has the power to turn a regular weeknight into an Italian extravaganza as well as be the centre of attention on any summer BBQ table. Made with fresh and flavourful ingredients, this classic pasta pesto with chicken and chargrilled red bell pepper will transport you straight to the heart of Italy!
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https://www.arlafoods.co.uk/recipes/pasta-pesto/

Instructions

Pesto
  • Roughly mash the salad cheese.
  • Add almonds, oil, basil, mint, water, and vinegar to a small rapid chopper and chop until the mixture is finely chopped. Put it in a bowl and mix with salt, pepper, and cheese – save a bit of cheese for garnish.
  • Meanwhile, bring water and salt to a boil in a pot and cook the pasta for about 8 minutes – it should be tender but not soft.
  • Stir in the courgette strips during the final ½ minute of the cooking time.
  • Save 50 ml of the cooking water, then drain the pasta and courgette in a colander.
  • Return the pasta and courgette to the pot and add the pesto – mix well and add the cooking water if the dish is too dry.
  • Divide the pasta into warm deep plates along with the grilled bell pepper and chicken.
  • Garnish with cheese and basil. Serve immediately.
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Tips

While pasta pesto can be made using pretty much any pasta shape you prefer, selecting one with ridges, grooves, or long thin strands will help the sauce cling better to it. For instance, the long slender strands of spaghetti are easily coated with the sauce, ensuring a burst of aromatic, fresh flavour in every bite.

Tips

To determine when your pasta is cooked to perfection, look for an ‘al dente’ texture. This means that it should be tender but still slightly firm to the bite. You can taste it 1-2 minutes before the suggested cooking time is up to make sure you do not overcook it.

Tips

Achieving a delicious and well-balanced pesto relies heavily on the texture of its ingredients as well as their freshness. The basil, mint, and almonds should be finely chopped to create a well-blended sauce that clings to the pasta seamlessly. If you are using a small rapid chopper or a food processor, you can easily achieve this consistency. Pulse/blitz the ingredients until they are finely chopped, but not pureed, to maintain some texture.

Questions about pasta pesto

Pasta with pesto is a true hero in the realm of tasty and time-saving cuisine. With our recipe and tips, you can effortlessly create an appetising meal that is bound to impress. Read on and find out more about it so you can impress your guests with a memorable culinary experience that showcases your cooking skills.

How to make pasta pesto?
First, combine the ingredients for the pesto. Next, bring water and salt to a boil and cook the pasta for approx. 8 minutes, ensuring it is tender but not soft. During the final 30 seconds of cooking, stir in the courgette strips. Reserve 50 ml of the cooking water before draining the pasta and courgette in a colander. Then, return them to the pot and mix in the pesto. If the dish is too dry, add the reserved water. Finally, serve the pasta on warm deep plates and garnish with cheese and basil.
How to make pasta pesto sauce?
To make a basil pasta pesto sauce, start by roughly mashing the salad cheese. Then add almonds, oil, basil, mint, water, and vinegar to a small rapid chopper, chopping until the mixture reaches a finely chopped consistency. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and mix with salt, pepper, and cheese.
How to use pesto from a jar with pasta?
Using pesto from a jar is not that different from using a homemade one. First, cook the pasta as instructed until it is al dente. Once it has drained, mix it with the pesto so everything is well combined. You can also add some of the saved cooking water, which helps bind and emulsify the oil-based sauce. This creates a smoother consistency and makes it easier to coat the pasta evenly.
When do you add pesto to pasta?
You should add the pesto after the pasta has been cooked and drained. This ensures that the flavours are evenly distributed and that the pasta absorbs the pesto sauce properly. Mixing pesto with hot pasta heats the mixture and releases a more aromatic flavour while preserving the freshness of the green sauce.
What to serve with pasta pesto?
While there are numerous delicious options, we opted for serving our pasta pesto with grilled bell pepper and chicken. With their natural sweetness and smoky undertones, the grilled bell peppers offer a delightful contrast to the pasta pesto and the grilled chicken makes it more filling and adds a delicious umami flavour. You can also serve it with grilled bread or a summery salad to complement the rich pesto.

Ingredients

Pesto 
White cheese cubes
100 g
Blanched almonds
25 g
Rapeseed oil
2½ tbsp
Fresh basil
5 g
Fresh mint leaves
10 g
Water
2 tbsp
White wine vinegar
1 tbsp
Coarse salt
½ tsp
Freshly ground pepper
Water
3 l
Coarse salt
3 tsp
Dried pasta, e.g., spaghetti
300 g
Green courgettes in thin strips
2
Garnish 
Fresh basil
Serve with
Grilled sweet, red bell pepper cut in half
2
Grilled meat, e.g., chicken fillet
500 g
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Classic pasta pesto with chicken and chargrilled red bell pepper

Pasta pesto with grilled chicken and red bell pepper is a timeless combination of ingredients that is simply irresistible. The fresh, herbaceous taste of the pesto entwined with the pasta complements the succulent, tender chicken, and the sweet, smoky notes of the chargrilled red bell pepper beautifully. The grilling process caramelises the peppers, enhancing their sweetness and bringing out these distinct smoky flavours that complement the fresh, herbaceous taste of the pesto beautifully. Meanwhile, the grilled chicken helps balance the overall richness of the dish. When grilled to perfection, the chicken develops a slightly crispy exterior while the interior remains tender and juicy, which pairs exquisitely with the bold and zesty pesto.

Together, these elements create a harmonious blend of flavours and textures, resulting in classic pasta pesto that is both comforting and never gets old.

Dive into the exquisite realm of Italian recipes with our pesto pasta salad, shrimp and lobster pasta, and salmon pasta with lime.

Use a homemade basil pesto mixed with crumbled salad cheese

Using a homemade pesto sauce mixed with crumbled cheese adds an inimitable twist to the traditional pesto recipe. This rendition of the beloved sauce gives the classic pesto a chic makeover. Starting with the foundation of almonds and rapeseed oil, this sauce boasts a nutty depth while the oil lends a delicate buttery taste. The combination of fresh basil and mint creates a refreshing, aromatic breeze that sweeps through the sauce, while the white wine vinegar adds a subtle tang. But the crowning touch is the crumbled salad cheese, which brings a creamy, slightly tangy quality to the pesto, creating a rich, velvety sauce that coats the pasta wonderfully.

Enjoy this quick and easy pasta pesto with guests or on a weekday

One of the great benefits of this dish is that it is quick and easy to prepare, making it ideal for both busy weeknights and summer parties. The simple combination of pasta pesto with tender courgettes served with grilled chicken and bell peppers allows you to whip up a delicious meal in no time for a lot of people. The inviting aroma and vibrant colours of the dish are perfect for a warm, convivial atmosphere like bringing people together around the table.

Make it your own

There are countless ways to add your flair to this simple pasta pesto recipe. For the vegetable aficionados, replace the chicken with grilled eggplant, zucchini, or mushrooms, each lending its own distinct, earthy aromas to the dish. Seafood lovers can also rejoice, as the pesto harmonises perfectly with the delicate, rich flavours of salmon or the succulent, tender notes of shrimp. 

Additionally, you can experiment with the pesto itself, swapping out almonds for pine nuts, walnuts, or pistachios. But why stop there? If you want to get creative with the sauce, consider adding sundried tomatoes for a touch of tangy sweetness or olives for a salty, briny contrast. If you love a little heat, chilli flakes will ignite a fiery spark, taking your dish to new heights.

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