This homemade pasta and pesto is surprisingly easy to make and cooks up in just a few minutes. It looks amazing, tastes amazing and requires only a few ingredients.

It’s no secret here that we love to cook delicious food. Whether it’s peri peri chicken, soy-honey pork, orange duck, appetizers or dessert, we love experimenting with all kinds of food and flavors.

But sometimes we like some simpler food as well. Sometimes all you need in life is some smooth, silky pasta and a delicious sauce. No meat needed, no extra stuff. Just pasta and a sauce and your fork to eat it all up.

Recently I had to trim down one of our basil plants, and because I hadn’t done it in a long time, we ended up with quite a bit of basil leaves. We didn’t want to eat some sort of basil salad, so what do you do when you have lots of basil?

You make pesto! Pesto is one of our favorite sauces. Maybe it’s because of the taste (okay, definitely because of the taste). But maybe also because it’s so fast and easy to make. You put basil, garlic and cheese in a blender (we don’t like nuts in ours) and blend it. Add some olive oil, lemon juice (optional), salt and pepper and you’re good to go. Less than a minute.

So we had the pesto, but we didn’t know what to do with it. Our little Amanda loves pasta, and we hadn’t made pasta from scratch in a long time. It’s also very fast to make and only has two ingredients–flour and eggs!

So we decided to get our pasta maker out and quickly mixed up some homemade stuff.

We rolled it out thin then sliced them into long strips to make tagliatelle. We put it into boiling salty water for a minute or two, drained in and reserved some pasta water.

Then we put the pasta back in the pot, tossed it with the pesto and some pasta water, and sprinkled some Parmesan over the top. Delicious!

If you want an even quicker meal, you can just buy tagliatelle from the shop. It will take longer to boil (about 9 minutes), and the taste won’t be as smooth as fresh, homemade pasta, but you’ll still have a great dish.

Drizzle some olive oil over the top for extra fun and you’re good to go!

Table of Contents

Homemade Pasta and Pesto

This homemade pasta and pesto is surprisingly easy to make and cooks up in just a few minutes. It looks amazing, tastes amazing and requires only a few ingredients.

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Prep Time 1

Cook Time 5

Total Time 1 5

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Servings 6 people

Calories 443 kcal

Ingredients

2 cups basil leaves packed
1/3 cup Parmesan grated
2 cloves garlic finely chopped
4 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp lemon juice optional
4 cups flour 500 g
4 eggs

Instructions

To make the pesto, simply add the basil, Parmesan and garlic in a food processor and blend. Add the olive oil and blend quickly until the pesto is oozing. Add your salt and pepper to taste, and optionally add in a squeeze of lemon juice.
To make the pasta, put the flour in a big bowl or on a longer working table and make a well in the middle. Put the eggs in the middle.
With a fork, beat the eggs until smooth. Slowly begin to incorporate the flour until it is all combined very well.
Knead the dough well. You don't have to be gentle. Your end dough should be smooth and silky, and it will take a few minutes of hard work to achieve. Shape it into a ball and wrap it tightly with plastic wrap. Put in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
Remove the dough from the fridge and get your pasta make ready. You'll have to start with a wide setting and continually roll the dough through, making the width smaller each time. You don't want a thin dough, but you don't want anything too thick either.
Lay the dough sheets down and cut long strips with a knife. Put a damp towel on top of the pasta to keep them fresh.
Boil a large pot of salty water and add the pasta. It will take about 1-3 minutes for fresh pasta to be cooked. Drain the pasta but reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water. Add the pasta back into the pan off the heat and add in the pesto. Add some pasta water to loosen it all up.
Serve with extra Parmesan sprinkled on top, and a drizzle of olive oil for good measure.
Bon appetit!

Video

Notes

There are many different types of pasta, each with its own unique flavor and texture. Pasta is traditionally made from durum wheat, water, and salt. Modern pasta makers often add other ingredients, such as eggs, to the dough to improve the flavor and texture. Pasta can also be made from other grains, such as rice, corn, and quinoa. Gluten is a protein found in wheat that gives dough its elasticity and helps it to maintain its shape. People with celiac disease or gluten intolerance cannot eat foods that contain gluten. There are many types of gluten-free pasta made from grains such as rice, corn.

Keyword pasta

A Delicious And Nutritious Sauce

Making your own pasta and pesto sauce is easy and fun! You can control the ingredients and make it as spicy or flavorful as you like. It’s a healthier option than store-bought pasta sauces, and it’s a great way to use up fresh herbs from your garden. Plus, making your own sauce means that you’ll know exactly what’s going into it – no additives or mystery ingredients here!

To make a delicious and nutritious sauce, start by cooking the pasta according to package directions. Once it’s cooked, drain it in a colander, reserving about 1/2 cup of the water.

In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the reserved water until it comes to a boil. Add the pasta and stir well to combine. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until the pasta is tender but still firm to the bite.

Next add your desired amount of pesto (start with just a tablespoon or two). Stir frequently so that everything doesn’t stick to the pan. Cook for an additional minute or until the pesto is heated through. Serve warm!

Ways To Get Kids To Eat Their Veggies

There are many ways to get kids to eat their veggies. One of the simplest is to add them to smoothies or salads. Kids love getting their vegetables in a tasty way, and they’re more likely to eat them if they feel like they’re winning something in the process.

Another great way to get kids interested in vegetables is to make a game out of it. For example, have them try to fill up their plate with as many different types of veggies as possible before time runs out. This can help introduce healthy eating habits early on and motivate them to keep eating healthier throughout the day.

One last way to get kids interested in vegetables is by letting them help in the kitchen. This can be a fun way for them to learn about food and cooking, while also getting some extra veggies into their diets at the same time! Simply have them chop up some veggies, mix together a recipe, or help you bake something – anything that gets them involved in the kitchen is good!

Finally, don’t forget about disguising vegetables as favorite foods. For example, put carrots inside an apple or potatoes inside a chicken leg – children will never know they’re actually eating healthful snacks! And always keep a stash of healthy snacks on hand for when these sneaky tactics fail (trust us). Overall, these tips will help get your child excited about vegetable consumption and encourage them to stick with it long term!