Oh my goodness, you guys! I wish you could smell the deliciousness coming out of my kitchen right now!!!
I’m telling you — quarantine is making chefs of us all, isn’t it? That’s definitely a perk to being cooped up!
Alright – so – let’s get right into this cheesy dish, because I can hardly wait to share it with you!
I am a sucker for fresh pesto. And I mean, it is so incredibly easy to make. It’s one of those dishes that you can make for people, that is about a 10 on the impressive scale, and a 1.0 on the difficulty scale. So believe me — the payoff is *chef’s kiss.*
Why? Because literally all you have to do is throw everything into the food processor and it does all the work!
So anywho – when I was ordering my groceries from Amazon Fresh earlier this week, you best believe that I squealed when I saw the fresh basil.
Because that meant one thing: PESTO!
And this recipe is extra cheesy – so get ready!
So grab your forks — it’s time to make this amazing and easy treat!
What You Need: (Serves 2)
Pesto:
1 large bunch fresh basil (around 2 cups)
1/4 cup pine nuts (or pistachios or walnuts)
Juice of 1 lemon
1 garlic clove
1/4 tsp salt
fresh cracks of black pepper
1/2 cup good extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup parmesan cheese (Vegan option, sub nutritional yeast)
Extra Cheesy Goodness:
4 oz regular cream cheese
Noodle of Choice (I made spiralized zucchini noodles)
2 zucchini
Tools:
Food Processor
Spiralizer
Oven Safe Ramekins
Spatula
Good Chef’s Knife (This is the one I use and love)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
In your food processor, throw your basil, pine nuts, garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Process until the pine nuts and garlic are all broken up. Then, slowly drizzle in your olive oil. Finally, add your parmesan cheese and process until incorporated. You will need to scrape the sides several times.
You could stop here and have a bomb-dot-com pesto!
OR you could kick it up a notch with the cream cheese!
To your food processor, add 4 oz (1/2 a block) of cream cheese, and process until the color turns a light, pastel green.
Set aside.
Make your noodle of choice – either per package direction on the stove, or by spiralizing zucchini with a spiralizer, mandoline, potato peeler, or simply a really sharp knife.
Then, in a large mixing bowl, mix to coat your noodles with the pesto.
Divide the noodles into two oven safe ramekins. Plave them on a baking sheet. Top with more parmesan cheese, and bake for 10-15 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, until the cheese is melty.
Let cool for 5 minutes before enjoying!
OK WOW!!!!
This was so delicious!! There is something just so spectacular about fresh basil. I’m telling you — the fragrence when you take it out of the fridge and put in the food processor — it has magic powers, I’m serious.
And most pesto recipes don’t call for lemon, but I really like adding lemon to mine. Because the bright *zing* from the lemon matches the bright and fresh quality of the fresh basil. It’s a match made in Heaven. And then add to that the garlic? — Get outta town.
But the cheese. OK this should be illegal. All melty, and it just coats the noodles so luxuriously. It takes that bright and fresh pesto, and adds just the right amount of rich and butteriness.
Definitely a treat to behold.
I hope you’re having a great week so far! Happy cooking, and stay healthy!
Hugs, Caralyn
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67 responses to “Cheesy Pesto Pasta!”
Mmmm. I tried green pesto for the first time in London back in early the 2000s and I’ve been hooked ever since. Bon appetit 🙂
thank you so much! isn’t it so delicious? with that freshness mmm! Hugs and love xox
That looks so good. Love me some pesto.. on tortellini? Oh heck yes
Thanks Joseph!! Oh dang!! Bustin out the tortellini?!? That’s next levelllll!!! Haha Hugs and love xox
I completely agree – pesto and tortellini is heavenly. And poetry!
I love pesto!! I have been doing a lot of cooking lately, and will be putting this on my list!
Thank you so much Carly! oh gosh I do too! so fresh and yummy on literally EVERYTHING!!! haha stay well! Hugs and love xox
This looks really good! I’m going to try it soon:-)
Thanks! Oh it wasssss! I hope you do! Hugs and love xox
Caralyn, your pesto looks and sounds delicious! Also has the fresh green look of Spring. I will have to try it!
Aw thank you so much! Yes! I love how everything “greens up” in the spring! It’s very encouraging! Stay well! Hugs and love xox
Hiugs and love! XO
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Nooooo I just started my fast 😂 This looks SO GOOD! Pasta and I are inseparable hehe 🙂
Oh no! Haha thank you so much! I feel you – nothing like slurpy noodles! Haha Hugs and love xox
That looks pretty good 😋
Thank you! Hugs and love xox
Hugs and love xoxo 😘
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Mmm! I’ll save this for when I “people” again 💖
Haha when you people again. Gosh I hope that’s soon! Thanks Paula! Hugs and love xox
Oh my goodness!!! Looks delicious ❤️
Thank you so much Lisa!! Hope you’re having a good night! Hugs and love xox
Wow! Looks yummy!!!
Thank you so much Ethel!! I appreciate that! Hugs and love xox
That looks so yummy!
Hey thanks so much! Hugs and love xox
You’re welcome! same to you xoxo
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I love pesto pasta. Looks amazing! The hat with mask is a good look too. 🙂
Thank you Timothy!! Oh it was delicious! Haha thanks 🙂 Hugs and love xox
You look stylish even wearing a mask 🙂
Haha Aw thanks so much for saying that!! Hugs and love xox
Looks absolutely yummy.😀
Thank you! Oh my gosh it was!! Hugs and love xox
I love how passionate you are about food! Thanks for the delicious recipe.
Thank you Rock!! Hugs and love xox
“You could stop here and have a bomb-dot-com pesto!” … I don’t know why that cracked me up so much. but it did… as usual this gives me ideas (and yes pesto is so easy people don’t realize, it never re-heats well, at least for me, unfortunately)
Hahah good! Glad it gave ya a chuckle! Hugs and love xox
Yum!
Thank you! Hugs and love xox
I love fresh basil! That recipe looks wonderful as does that gorgeous hat. 😀
Aw thank you Lesley! Now that the sun’s shining, gotta protect that skin! Haha stay well! Hugs and love xox
I agree, there’s nothing like fresh made pesto. I keep buying the canned stuff and being sorely disappointed.
Wow looks very healthy!
Thank you! It was certainly yummy! Hugs and love xox
I love pesto! That looks so good!
Thank you Darlene! Me too! It’s my favorite! Hugs and love xox
Good Post. You should have your own TV cook show. You know you are chef with a flare!
Blessings and Peace.
hahah oh gosh, thank you CF! Believe it or not, when I first moved to New York City, I audition for “The Next Food Network Star!” haha i don’t even know if that show is still on tv, but I was gunning for it! hahahahha stay well! Hugs and love xox
DAAAAAAAAAANG! Sounds incredible! Saved for later!
Hahaha thank you Kelly!!! oh gosh it was FAAAAAABULOUS! stay well! Hugs and love xox
That looks so amazing!
Thank you Amanda! oh gosh IT WASSSSS!!!!!!! stay well, and i hope oyu’re having a great weekened! Hugs and love xox
Looks amazing!!
Thank you Ana! oh gosh it was!! Hugs and love xox
The pictures look delicious!
Thank you so much Ab! Oh gosh, the pictures don’t do it justice! haha stay well! Hugs and love xox
Mmm I love pesto! Thanks for this!
thanks Marla! oh gosh i do too! Hugs and love xox
Yummy Pesto! My Achilles’ Heel!
thank you so much! i love it so much 🙂 Hugs and love xox
Oh my green-ness!!! So yummy and of course I love the colors!! <3 I will be trying this recipe very soon. ✔😊 "I’m telling you — quarantine is making chefs of us all, isn’t it? " THIS IS SO TRUE LOL!!! 😂 But it's a good thing though! I finally get to appreciate cooking more. Stay blessed and centered on Christ!
Hi Tammy! hahahha it really is! We’re all getting super creative!! i love it! stay well! Hugs and love xox
Oh my gosh! I’ve been looking for a good pesto recipe! Thanks so much for this! This is the perfect time to try it!
Oh, I hope you don’t mind me posting this, but I recently started designing Catholic wedding invitations and Unity Candles. We won’t be quarantined forever!
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hi Joy! oh that’s great!i hope you enjoy it! Hugs and love xox