Description
This creamy pesto pasta recipe combines al dente pasta with a luscious homemade or store-bought pesto sauce, enriched with heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Enhanced with sautéed garlic and fresh cherry tomatoes, it’s a perfect comforting meal garnished with fresh basil leaves for a burst of flavor and color.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 400 grams Pasta (fettuccine, penne, or spaghetti)
Sauce
- 1 cup Pesto Sauce (homemade or store-bought)
- 1 cup Heavy Cream
- 0.5 cup Parmesan Cheese (freshly grated)
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil (extra virgin)
- 2 cloves Garlic (minced)
- Salt and Pepper (to taste)
Additional
- 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes (halved)
- Fresh Basil Leaves (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water before draining the pasta.
- Prepare the Pesto Sauce: If making homemade pesto, blend fresh basil leaves, garlic, pine nuts, and Parmesan cheese in a food processor. Drizzle in olive oil steadily until the pesto becomes smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Sauté Garlic: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Add Cream: Reduce the heat to low and pour in the heavy cream. Stir and let it simmer gently for a few minutes until the mixture thickens slightly.
- Incorporate Pesto: Stir the pesto sauce into the cream mixture thoroughly, combining the flavors evenly.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the drained pasta into the skillet and toss to coat it well with the creamy pesto sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add some reserved pasta water to adjust consistency.
- Add Tomatoes: Gently fold in the halved cherry tomatoes and warm them through without overcooking to preserve freshness.
- Serve: Remove the skillet from heat. Garnish the pasta with extra Parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency for a smoother coating.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for enhanced flavor.
- Cherry tomatoes add a fresh burst and brightness to the rich sauce.
- Control the simmering to avoid curdling the cream.
- You can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half for a lighter version but the sauce will be less rich.
