Pasta al pesto di basilico

Ingredienti

• 200 gram penne pasta (approx 2 Cups)
• 6 Cup water
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 2 Cup fresh basil leaves
• 1/2 Cup walnuts
• 1/4 Cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1/4 Cup extra virgin olive oil
• 4 - 6 garlic cloves
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 Cup cherry tomato, cut into halves
• 2 - 4 tablespoon heavy cream (optional)
• 1 tablespoon coarsely chopped walnuts

Preparazione

1. 1

   --- Cook Pasta: ---

2. 2

   Boil water in a saucepan with salt. Add the desired shape of pasta and cook till al-dente. Reserve 1 cup of boiled pasta water. Drain the remaining water. Transfer the cooked pasta to a mixing bowl. Set aside.

3. 3

   --- Make Basil Pesto: ---

4. 4

   While the pasta is cooking, start making pesto sauce.

5. 5

   Add all the pesto ingredients except olive oil in a food processor with the blade attachment. Seal the lid of the food processor. Start blending the ingredients while slowly and steadily pouring the olive oil. You may need to stop. scrape, and again blend the ingredients. But do not blend more than 1 minute.

6. 6

   Store pesto sauce in an airtight conatiner in the refrigerator or use it immediately.

7. 7

   --- Assemble: ---

8. 8

   Transfer cooked pasta to a mixing bowl. Add pesto sauce, cherry tomato, cream, and 1/4 cup of reserved boiled pasta water. Toss to evenly coat pasta with the sauce. The sauce should cling to the pasta.

9. 9

   If the pasta dries up or soak the sauce, add 1/4 cup remaining boiled pasta water and toss once again.

10. 10

    Garnish basil pesto pasta with chopped walnut and cheese.

11. 11

    Serve Basil Pesto Pasta immediately with focaccia bread.