Cook's Hideout: Creamy Pesto Pasta

July 05, 2015

Creamy Pesto Pasta

Blogging Marathon# 54: Week 1/ Day 3
Theme: Vegetarian Italian dishes
Dish: Creamy Pesto Pasta
Kids sure are very unpredictable. My son is the picky eater in the house and my daughter is an adventurous eater, but they are slowly reversing their likes. The little one is becoming too picky and doesn't want to try anything new.
Pesto Pasta
I made this creamy pesto pasta for dinner one day and since I wasn't sure if the kids would like it, I made them something else too. But my son declared that pesto sauce is his second favorite pasta sauce right after marinara sauce. Then my little one tried a little bit and wanted to eat it for her dinner too. So the kids ate most of the pasta and the adults ended up eating what I made for the kids.
Thanks to summer, I had fresh basil in my container garden that I used to make this pesto. It is so convenient to just walk outside and get what I need -- I love summers.
Pesto Pasta
Pesto is usually mixed with pasta and served. This is a richer and creamier version with heavy cream and butter. It is quick and easy dish that is fancy enough to feed company or picky kids.

IngredientsServes 4
Short cut Pasta - 8oz. (Penne, rotini, elbows or any short cut pasta)
Basil - 1cup
Toasted Pine nuts - 3tbsp (can be substituted with walnuts or other nuts)
Garlic - 2 cloves, peeled and crushed
Parmesan cheese - ¼cup+more for the pasta, grated
Extra virgin Olive oil - 3~4tbsp
Heavy Cream - ¼~½cup
Unsalted butter - 1tbsp
Cherry tomatoes - ½cup, halved (or 2 medium tomatoes diced)
Salt & Pepper - to taste

Method:
  • Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and reserve a cup of pasta cooking water.
  • In the meantime, in a food processor combine basil, pine nuts, garlic, parmesan cheese, salt & pepper. Pulse a few times to blend the ingredients. With the machine running, drizzle olive oil until a smooth paste forms. Set aside.
  • In a pan, heat the butter and heavy cream over medium-low flame. Stir in pesto, whisk to combine and turn off the heat. Add the cooked pasta, chopped tomatoes and additional grated cheese and mix well. Serve immediately.
Pesto pasta
 
Lets check out what my fellow marathoners have cooked today for BM# 54.
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11 comments:

  1. I am glad the kids liked this version of pasta.I too love summer, though the 'container basil' is there in my wish list as well, don;t know whether i will actually go ahead with that plan.

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  2. Going by her age, your daughter is doing great. I guess this was a hit being a kid approved dish.

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  3. wow that is so flavorful and aromatic... looks stunning..

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  4. Wow..amazing clicks.It's super tempting..pasta with pesto is my favorite..

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  5. Mouthwatering goodness, wat an aromatic and irresistible creamy pasta..

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  6. Pesto pasta is a kid's delight from what I have seen ! Lovely clicks

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  7. Wow awesome clicks and pasta looks absolutely tempting.

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  8. Wow ! Looks so good .. and using fresh garden stuff is so inspiring ! I love summers too :-))

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  9. kids are funny - sometimes the things you think they will love they wont go near and vice versa - I don't think anyone can resist this yummy creamy pasta!

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  10. Pavani the pictures are so yum! Great that kids loved the dish. I'm sure mine will love it too.

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  11. droolworthy pasta...so creamy and rich..

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