Pesto pasta: a recipe for Italian cuisine. Several variations of the dish

Pesto sauce is considered the most popular Italian sauce made from basil and olive oil.

It can be green, red or even purple. Ideal with pasta.

The birthplace of this sauce is the city of Genoa, where it is still very popular. And in the 19th century it became a traditional dish of Italy.

In the old days, all ingredients used to prepare the sauce were ground, hence its name, from the word “pestare”, which translates as “to grind”. Now it can be made in a blender, but culinary experts are sure that such processing worsens the taste.

The first mention of it appeared in 1800. Italians really love and appreciate this sauce, use it for many dishes and even simply spread it on bread. It is considered a symbol of wealth and must be on the wedding menu; this is a good sign for the newlyweds.

Classic pesto sauce with basil

To appreciate the taste, you need to prepare Pesto sauce at least once according to the basic recipe.

Required Products:
3 large spoons of pine nuts;
fresh basil – 50 grams;
olive oil – 0.1 l;
two cloves of garlic;

50 grams of parmesan.

Cooking process:
Basil pesto is very easy to prepare. The greens must be washed and dried so that there is no moisture.
Chop the garlic into medium pieces and grate the cheese on a coarse grater.

Place all this together with the nuts in a blender and grind.

Made with sun-dried tomatoes and walnuts

To appreciate the taste, you need to prepare Pesto sauce at least once according to the basic recipe.

Be sure to try pasta with pesto sauce prepared according to this recipe. A very winning combination.
60 milliliters olive oil;
2 large spoons of water;
six sun-dried tomatoes;
garlic clove;
a third of a glass of crushed nuts;
50 grams of parmesan;
fresh basil - a glass;

50 grams of parmesan.

sea salt and black pepper - on the tip of a spoon.
Prepare a food processor bowl, place the specified amount of basil, finely chopped garlic, chopped tomatoes, grated cheese and crushed walnuts there.
Add a little water, sea salt and pepper to your taste, turn on the device and let it beat until the mixture is smooth.

Reduce speed, add oil and bring until thick.

From pistachios and asparagus

To appreciate the taste, you need to prepare Pesto sauce at least once according to the basic recipe.

Pesto can be made with such unusual ingredients. And although the combination is not traditional, the result is an interesting sauce.
lemon juice and herbs to your taste;
three tablespoons of olive oil;
six sun-dried tomatoes;
2 large spoons of roasted pistachios;
asparagus – 2 bunches;
two cloves of garlic;

50 grams of parmesan.

Before cooking, asparagus should be placed in boiling water, brought to softness, cooled and cut into small pieces.
Now all of these ingredients, along with the spices, are sent into a blender bowl and blended there until they turn into a homogeneous mixture of sufficient thickness.

From arugula

With this sauce you can prepare salads, appetizers, or even season potatoes and pasta. In principle, you can use any nuts, but the taste will be completely different.

To appreciate the taste, you need to prepare Pesto sauce at least once according to the basic recipe.

fresh basil – 50 grams;
six sun-dried tomatoes;
Parmesan cheese – 40 grams;
salt to taste;
35 grams of pine nuts.

50 grams of parmesan.

We wash the greens and be sure to wait for them to dry completely.
Grind the cheese and cut the garlic into pieces.
Place all the ingredients in a blender or food processor, pour in the oil, add salt to your taste and blend to the desired consistency. It is not at all necessary that it become homogeneous. Small pieces of nuts will give the final result a unique taste.

Creamy Pesto

One of the best options for making spaghetti with pesto sauce. It can also be used to dress vegetables or make sandwiches.

To appreciate the taste, you need to prepare Pesto sauce at least once according to the basic recipe.

parmesan – 100 grams;
a large spoon of lemon juice;
olive oil - two tablespoons;
a little more than 100 grams of any cream cheese;
100 grams of walnuts;
100 grams of dried basil;
2 cloves of garlic;
black pepper and salt to your taste.

50 grams of parmesan.

Be sure to chop the walnuts a little, and grate the hard cheese on a coarse or medium grater.
After that, the composition indicated in the list is put into a blender and begins to blend until it forms a thick mass, so that it is somewhat similar to a cream.

Simple cilantro and parsley sauce

This spicy version of the dressing will definitely appeal to lovers of spicy dishes.

To appreciate the taste, you need to prepare Pesto sauce at least once according to the basic recipe.

half a small spoon of salt;
a bunch of fresh cilantro and the same amount of parsley;
2 large spoons of pine nuts or any other;
olive oil – 0.1 l;
parmesan – 0.1 kg;
0.1 l olive oil.

50 grams of parmesan.

Previously, all ingredients for the sauce were finely chopped with a knife or mashed; now the process can be simplified using a blender.
We put cheese in it, beat it so that it turns into crumbs.
We add everything else from the list, turn on the device at high speed and wait about five minutes. It will take this long for the mixture to become homogeneous and sauce-like. It can be stored for no more than two weeks in a closed container in the refrigerator.

Step-by-step version of tomato pesto

Basil aroma and slight tomato sourness are an excellent option for crackers and pasta.

To appreciate the taste, you need to prepare Pesto sauce at least once according to the basic recipe.

six sun-dried tomatoes;
two tomatoes;
olive oil – 2 large spoons;
salt and pepper to your taste;
30 grams of pine nuts or walnuts;
a bunch of fresh basil;
curd cheese – 50 grams;
40 grams of Parmesan or other hard cheese.

50 grams of parmesan.

Tomatoes should be fairly firm; soft ones should not be used. Cut them into medium-sized cubes, put them in a sieve, sprinkle with salt and let stand for about 10 minutes.
Place all ingredients from the list except cottage cheese and butter in a blender and grind until smooth.
Then pour in the butter and the specified amount of cheese, season with salt again and turn on the blender for a few more minutes.
The resulting sauce can be peppered, transferred to a convenient container and stored in the refrigerator.

What do you eat Pesto sauce with?

Many people have probably heard about this sauce; it is sold in almost all stores, although it is quite expensive. As it turns out, you can prepare it at home, but what do you eat Pesto sauce with? Will it go well with cooked dishes?

A dressing made from aromatic herbs goes well with pasta, meat, salads and even fish.

Spaghetti, ravioli, fettuccine and any other pasta are an ideal combination with this sauce, and it doesn’t matter which one you choose, creamy or tomato.

Salmon, cod or any other fish can be baked in this additive. Then a completely ordinary dish will sparkle with completely different colors.

It can be used as a stand-alone marinade for chicken, pork or turkey. A dish in such a marinade can be safely placed on a festive table - it turns out incredibly aromatic and tasty.

Another option is sandwiches and canapés. The sauce is applied to bread or toast, and you can put anything on top: mozzarella, tomatoes, ham, any other cheese.

It is used to dress vegetable salads instead of the usual oil and mayonnaise; it is especially good in combination with eggplants.

Pasta with pesto sauce is one of the most common dishes in sunny Italy. And this is not surprising! Thanks to classic green pesto, the dish has a delicate taste and a pleasant, fresh aroma.

The recipe for preparing an Italian dish is completely simple. And it takes no more than 30 minutes. First of all, you need to prepare the pesto sauce.

Ingredients:

Olive oil – 100 ml
Fresh basil - 1 bunch
Garlic – 2 cloves
Pine nuts – 50 g
Parmesan cheese – 180 g
Salt – 0.5 tsp.
Ground black pepper

How to cook:

Rinse the basil thoroughly under cold running water and dry it. Separate the leaves from the stems. The recipe calls for using only basil leaves. Chop the cheese and garlic with a knife. To add more flavor to the sauce, lightly toast the pine nuts.

Real pesto sauce is prepared by grinding all the necessary ingredients in a mortar. But to speed up and simplify the process, it is convenient to use a kitchen assistant for this purpose - a blender. Place chopped basil leaves in it. Slowly add the oil in small portions, constantly whisking the mixture. Add nuts (toasted), garlic cloves and cheese. Beat the mixture until smooth. Add salt to taste.

Once the sauce is ready, it's time to start preparing the pasta.

Ingredients:

Paste – 250 g
Water – 2.5 l
Olive oil – 10 ml
Salt – 5 g

How to cook:

Bring water to a boil, add salt and olive oil. Place pasta in boiling water. Mix thoroughly. Cook with the lid open until half cooked. Be careful not to overcook the spaghetti! There should be a slightly hard core left inside. Drain the water and brush the pasta with a little olive oil.

Finally, you need to combine the pasta with the sauce. Place the cooked pasta in a preheated frying pan, then the sauce. Add salt, ground black pepper and stir all ingredients with quick, deft movements for one minute.

Place the finished dish on a flat, wide plate. Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese on top. Garnish with thin lemon slices, pine nuts and basil.

Italian pasta with pesto sauce can be successfully complemented with chicken. Then the dish becomes more rich and nutritious. Pasta with aromatic sauce and dietary chicken is undoubtedly the best solution for a family lunch or a romantic dinner!

Recipe for pasta with pesto sauce and chicken

Ingredients:

Paste – 300 g
Pesto sauce – 150 g
Chicken (fillet) – 150 g
Cherry tomatoes – 5 pcs.
Ground black pepper
Olive oil

How to cook:

Using a sharp knife, cut the chicken fillet into small strips and beat lightly. Lightly fry the chicken in an oiled skillet over high heat, stirring constantly. Add cherry tomatoes, salt, black pepper.

Cook the pasta in enough salted water until al dente (half cooked). Place the pasta in a colander and let the water drain.

Place pasta and pesto sauce in a frying pan with chicken meat, mix thoroughly and heat over low heat for about two minutes.

Serve hot, garnished with nuts, basil and grated Parmesan.

Pasta recipe with pesto sauce and king prawns

If you are a seafood fan, then prepare a dish with true Italian flavor using pasta and shrimp. This is a healthy, refined and delicate culinary masterpiece that is simply impossible to resist!

Ingredients:

Basil leaves – 50 g
Garlic – 20 g
Olive oil – 150 g
Pine nuts – 50 g
Parmesan – 150 g
Paste – 300 g
Shrimp – 200 g
Black pepper

How to cook:

Grind fresh basil, cheese, olive oil, garlic and pine nuts in a mortar to a smooth paste.

Cook the pasta in boiling water (with olive oil and salt).

Crush the garlic clove with the blunt end of a knife. Sauté it in olive oil heated in a frying pan. Then add the peeled king prawns to the garlic and fry for 3-5 minutes.

Combine the finished pasta with shrimp, pesto sauce and a tablespoon of hot water. Place the frying pan on the stove, turn on high heat and stir the food quickly for two minutes.

It is impossible to imagine traditional Italian cuisine without spaghetti, and to date, the best chefs have invented hundreds of ways to prepare this dish. The main components of spaghetti are pasta and sauce; meat or seafood can be added if desired. Pesto is an unusual Italian sauce that is added to spaghetti or other bread products.

Spaghetti with pesto sauce, photo.

To prepare spaghetti with pesto sauce according to the classic recipe, you will need the following ingredients:

Spaghetti - 300 g.
Bacon - 200 g.
Hard cheese (2 types) - 150 g.
Tomato - 1 pc.
Peanuts - 100 g.
Basil - 100 g.

Recipe for spaghetti with pesto sauce

1) Boil spaghetti in salted water until cooked. They should not be overcooked, so after boiling, cook them for no more than 5 minutes. Photo 2.

2) Cut the bacon into oblong pieces. Photo 3.

4) Fry the bacon in a frying pan. Since this meat is quite fatty, you can cook it without adding sunflower oil. Photo 5.

5) Cut the tomato into small cubes without removing the seeds. Photo 6.

6) Add cooked spaghetti to the fried bacon and chopped tomatoes on top. Photo 7.

7) Finally, add the pesto sauce to the pan and spread it evenly over the surface of the spaghetti. Photo 8.

The spaghetti should not brown, so once it is slightly warm, you can remove the pan from the heat.

This dish is distinguished by its originality thanks to the favorite Italian sauce - pesto. Depending on your taste preferences, you can increase or decrease the amount of sauce.

Total estimated cost of products as of 09/08/14: 460 rubles.

Very simple and quick recipe. We have long wanted to make pesto sauce at home, but the lack of a blender got in the way.

Having prepared and tasted it, honestly, I expected something more, but the next day, after a night in the refrigerator, the pasta was more saturated with pesto sauce and the taste became richer and more pleasant, and the olive oil in the sauce did not allow the pasta to stick together.

This basil sauce also goes well with other side dishes. You can even just spread it on a piece of bread as a bite.

Pesto sauce can be stored for quite a long time (about a month) in the refrigerator, but only in a glass container with a tight lid.

It’s also probably worth warning that the sauce is very high in calories and quite “heavy”, since it contains butter, cheese and nuts.

And one more moment. It is better to take green basil rather than purple.

Pasta with pesto sauce and parmesan. Step-by-step preparation:

Place a pan of pasta water over high heat in a ratio of 1000/100/5-10 (water/paste/salt). Rinse the basil under cold water. Separate the leaves from the stems.
Peel the garlic. Cut the cloves in half or crush them with a knife.
Prepare pine nuts. Pour them into a blender along with the garlic.
Cut 50-60 grams of Parmesan and cut into small pieces or grate. If the water in the pan boils, then add bucatini or other pasta of your choice to cook, having previously checked the cooking time indicated on the package. Don't forget to stir the pasta from time to time.
Add parmesan to the blender. Pour 100 ml. olive oil.
Pour in the basil. Beat the pesto mixture a little with a blender. Add salt and pepper to taste. Continue grinding until a homogeneous green mass is formed.
If the pesto sauce is too thick and the blender cannot handle it, then add half a glass of water in which the pasta is cooked.
Grate the cheese for future topping of the dish. Remove half a glass of water from the pan with the pasta. Place the finished pasta in a colander and return to the pan.
Pour pesto sauce over the pasta. Mix thoroughly. If the sauce is still very thick, then add that half a glass of water from the pan. Cover with a lid for 1-2 minutes.
Pasta with pesto sauce and parmesan is ready. Take out a plate, generously sprinkle your portion with grated cheese and buon appetito!

Pesto sauce is a classic Italian dressing. Many people are probably familiar with the taste and appearance of this sauce, because it is made from basil, cheese, pine nuts and olive oil, and has a rich green color.

One of the main dishes in which this dressing can be used is. It is quite simple to prepare it in its classic form, but there are many additions to the recipe that will allow you to get varied and tasty dishes. Moreover, such a dish will not harm your figure at all if consumed at the right time. Italians most often eat pasta for lunch, so that the energy received from the dish has time to be spent during the day. What is the calorie content of a dish like spaghetti with pesto? Everything, of course, depends on the ingredients that were used during preparation. In its classic form, this dish has the following beneficial properties:

Let's figure out how to prepare a classic version of pasta with sauce, and what variations of this dish exist.

Pasta with pesto sauce - recipe It’s best to start mastering this dish with classic versions. To prepare one of the dishes beloved by Italians, you must first decide whether you will use ready-made ingredients or prepare everything yourself. If you decide to choose ready-made pasta and sauce, then when choosing them you need to pay attention to:

The composition of the paste - it should be made from durum wheat so as not to harm the figure. In this case, the paste should not break when bent.
The composition of the sauce - there should be no substitution in it - for example, sunflower oil is often used instead of olive oil. Also, the sauce should contain a minimum of preservatives. This, of course, also affects the expiration dates - the shorter they are, the greater the chances of buying a fresh and high-quality product.

If you decide to cook the pasta yourself, then you will need:

To make the paste, you need to pour out the flour, add salt, and break the eggs into a hole made in a slide in advance. Mix in the eggs with a fork and knead the dough. It should be very hard. After this, it is wrapped in film for half an hour and then divided into parts. They are rolled out and cut into paste. You need to cook it for no more than five minutes.

The sauce is prepared in this way:

Pine nuts are fried in a frying pan until brown
Mix oil, basil, nuts and salt in a blender.
Add grated cheese and chopped garlic to the mixture and mix again.
It is important that the sauce is lumpy, so you don’t need to mix it for too long. After this, the sauce is added to the pasta, and the Italian dish is ready.

Pasta with pesto and bacon

Once you learn how to cook pasta and sauce, you can experiment with its variations. To do this, you just need to buy some ingredients and add them directly to the sauce. So, you can add bacon to pesto. For this:

Prepare the pasta according to the above recipe, or you can use pasta with barilla pesto sauce
We make pesto sauce according to the classic recipe
Frying bacon in a frying pan
Add the bacon to the sauce and mix the sauce with the pasta.

The calorie content of a serving of this dish is slightly higher than the usual one, due to the fried bacon - 1755 kcal.

Pasta with pesto sauce and chicken

If you don’t want to use bacon in the sauce, but it wouldn’t hurt to add a little meat, then you can use light and dietary chicken meat. To prepare this dish, you need to take the following ingredients:

The first step is to boil the pasta.
Cut the chicken fillet into cubes, cut the tomatoes in half
In a frying pan, melt the butter in the vegetable oil. Salt and pepper the meat and fry it.
Fry the tomatoes in a small amount of the remaining oil.
Add chicken and tomatoes to pasta and add sauce.

Pasta with pesto sauce and minced meat It is prepared according to the same principle - the minced meat is simply fried in vegetable oil, and then mixed with spaghetti and pesto.

Pasta with pesto sauce and shrimp

If you want to add some sea notes to your pasta, you can use shrimp, which also go well with Italian dishes. To do this, you will need to boil the pasta and then fry the shrimp in olive oil. Afterwards, all ingredients, including sauce and pasta, are mixed. You can prepare a dish like this in the same way: pasta with pesto sauce and mushrooms. To do this, mushrooms and onions are fried in oil, and then they can be added to the already prepared sauce.

Pasta with pesto sauce and cream

To make a tender and healthy pasta, you also need other ingredients - for example, chicken, mushrooms or shrimp. Cream will be an excellent addition to these products. After the meat or mushrooms have already been fried, you can add up to 200 ml of heavy cream to them and simmer them in a frying pan. Next, simply add the resulting mixture to the pesto sauce and pasta.

Pasta with pesto sauce and tomatoes

Another tasty and healthy dish is prepared in the same way as classic pasta with pesto, with only one difference - 200 grams of cherry tomatoes must be pressed into the pesto after it is already cooked.

There are many options on how you can prepare this Italian dish, so you can choose from a variety of recipes. The main thing is to use only natural and healthy ingredients when cooking, and then any pasta option will become a favorite for the whole family.