BASIL PESTO PASTA |Basil Pesto with penne Pasta

Now here is a second pasta recipe on my site ie Basil pesto pasta.

Penne cooked with basil walnut pesto sauce - absolutely delicious .

Pesto is really a wonderful alternative to a tomato or cheese sauce for your pastas, though I will say there is no lack of Parmesan in this. 




 It’s super quick to throw together and has no shortage on flavor, so it’s perfect for a quick dinner that looks and tastes like it took much more work than it actually did.
It is just burst of flavors with the freshness from basil and the creaminess from nuts,cheese .

You can keep it simple or can add veggies of your choice while making this pasta as i did.

Ingredients:

2.5 cups penne pasta(or any other pasta)
3/4 cup basil pesto (click here for recipe)
1 onion,sliced
3-4 garlic pods,sliced
1 tomato,seeded and diced
1 red green yellow capsicum diced
1/4 cup broccoli florets
1 small carrot diced
1 tsp mixed herbs
1/2 tsp chili flakes
1/2 tsp ground pepper
1 tbsp grated parmesan(optional)
8-10 basil leaves,torn
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 
salt to taste




Method:

1.Cook pasta in a saucepan of boiling salted water, following packet directions until tender. Drain and reserve 1/2 cup of water for later usage.mix in one tablespoon of oil and rinse under cold water and spread in a big plate.

2.For the walnut pesto refer the basil pesto sauce recipe.



3.Heat two tablespoons of oil in a non-stick pan and add sliced garlic and saute until slight brown .next add thinly sliced onions and fry until they are pink and soft.Now add sliced capsicum,broccoli,carrot and diced tomato and saute it for few minutes.



4.When the tomatoes soften, crush them with the back of the ladle. Add the basil pesto, crushed red chillies flakes,ground pepper,torn basil leaves,mixed herbs and mix well. Add the pasta and mix well. Add milk and cook for another two to three minutes. 



5 Sprinkle the  parmesan cheese and  serve hot immediately garnished with basil leaves




Tips

1.You can replace penne pasta with any of the pasta like spiral,macaroni ,farfelle or any other pasta of your choice.
2. add any veggies as per availability
3.You can increase or decrease cheese as per your taste
4.Can skip veggies in above recipe and make the paste with basil pesto alone