Description
This Lemon Pesto Pasta is bright, fresh, and full of Mediterranean flavor. Made with fresh basil, lemon zest, garlic, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese, this easy pasta recipe comes together in just 25 minutes. Perfect for weeknight dinners or light summer meals.
Ingredients
Scale
- 400 g pasta
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup pine nuts
- 2 garlic cloves
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta until al dente.
- Toast pine nuts in a dry pan until golden.
- Add basil, pine nuts, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, Parmesan, salt, and pepper to a food processor.
- Blend while slowly adding olive oil until smooth.
- Drain pasta and reserve 1/4 cup pasta water.
- Toss pasta with pesto and a little reserved pasta water until creamy.
- Serve with extra Parmesan and fresh basil.
Notes
Toast the nuts for deeper flavor. Adjust lemon to taste. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Add a splash of olive oil when reheating.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg