Grandpa Joe's
Pasta with Basil Pesto

Nothing could be simpler!

About this recipe

You can prepare and serve this dish in less than ten minutes, with or without meat, and either as a main course or as a side.  My first choice of a meat would be hot or mild Italian sausage (although a few extra minutes will be required to sauté or grill the sausages).

Ingredients

  • Basil Pesto
  • linguine or spaghetti
  • Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
  • extra virgin olive oil
  • pine nuts (optional)

Directions

  1. Cook 1 pound linguine or spaghetti until al dente. 
  2. Put ¾ cup of the pesto in a large bowl.  Whisk ½ cup of pasta cooking water into the pesto.  
  3. Add the drained pasta to the pesto, and toss well. 
  4. Serve with additional grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. 
  5. Drizzle with your best extra virgin olive oil.

Notes

  • Optionally, sprinkle with pignoli (pine nuts).
Posted: April 2014.