Description
Indulge in the rich and creamy goodness of this homemade Creamy Pesto Pasta Sauce. Made with fresh basil, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, and a touch of heavy cream, this sauce is a luxurious addition to any pasta dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Fresh Basil Pesto:
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves, packed
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/3 cup pine nuts
- 2 garlic cloves, peeled
- 1/2 cup olive oil
Creamy Sauce:
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional squeeze of lemon juice
Instructions
- Prepare the Fresh Basil Pesto: In a food processor, blend basil, Parmesan, pine nuts, and garlic until finely chopped. Slowly add olive oil until smooth.
- Cook the Creamy Sauce: Transfer the pesto to a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir in cream and butter, cook until warmed and slightly thickened, about 3-5 minutes.
- Season and Serve: Season with salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Serve over cooked pasta.
Notes
- You can substitute walnuts or cashews for pine nuts.
- For a dairy-free version, use coconut cream and nutritional yeast.
- Sauce can be refrigerated for up to 4 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 230mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 21g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 4g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 30mg