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Pasta al pesto

       This is my all time favourite pasta sauce made with fresh basil😍

Ingredients
Basil - one large bunch, or 3 small bunches
50g pine nuts 
1-1/2 clove of garlic
35-40g parmesan cheese 
400g spaghetti (or any pasta of your choice)
salt, pepper
50-60ml (approx.) extra virgin olive oil 

This recipe serves 4

Cheese - if you can't find parmesan cheese in your local supermarket, you can of course substitute with a similar cheese. 

1. Wash the basil, cutting off the large stalks. Leave the basil to dry.
2. Add the basil, pine nuts, garlic and parmesan cheese into a food processor (or pestle & mortar). Pour in  olive oil slowly and process until fine. Depending on the size of your food processor, add the ingredients and oil a little at a time. (You can toast the pine nuts beforehand, but be very careful not to burn them!).
Add more olive oil if you prefer a less dense sauce.

 

 




 
3. Boil some water in a saucepan, add salt and the pasta, cook for the required time. Drain the water.
4. Add the cooked pasta with the pesto mix back into the saucepan. You could use a rubber spatula to help scrape down the sides of the food processor.  Mix well, adding salt and pepper and cook on a low heat for a few minutes.
5. I usually serve this dish with some fish or chicken, with a bit of grated parmesan on top.

 

 

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