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Pasta al pesto served in bowl garnished with shaved parmesan and fresh basil with a side of crunchy bread.
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Pasta Al Pesto (without nuts)

Pasta Al Pesto is an Italian classic that is easy to make with aromatic pesto sauce without pine nuts and al dente spaghetti. Perfect for family night dinners!
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Keyword creamy pasta, pasta al pesto, pesto, pesto pasta, spaghetti
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 833kcal
Author Samantha Pickthall

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups (370g) pesto sauce, homemade pesto without pine nuts
  • 1/4 tsp salt, to season water
  • 1/2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large red onion, peeled and roughly chopped
  • 17 oz (500g) spaghetti, regular or gluten-free
  • Shaved parmesan cheese, to serve
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Make pesto and set aside.
  • Half-fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil on the stovetop.
  • Once boiling, add salt and then the spaghetti and cook to packet instructions or to al dente 7-9 minutes.
  • While spaghetti is cooking, pour oil into a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion and sauté for 5 minutes while the spaghetti boils.
  • Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water then drain off the spaghetti in a colander.
  • Reduce heat of the skillet to low.
  • Add the cooked spaghetti and the pesto. Gently stir to combine using silicone or metal tongs to avoid the spaghetti breaking up and turning mushy.
  • Continue to heat in the skillet until warmed through then turn off heat.
  • Serve immediately with extra parmesan cheese, fresh basil and toasted bread. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Make it Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free spaghetti or the gluten-free version of pasta you choose to use.
 
  • Make it Vegan: Simply use a vegan substitute for the shaved parmesan cheese in the pesto recipe. Then use the same cheese to sprinkle on top when serving.
 
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container, refrigerated, for 3-4 days.
 
  • Re-heat leftovers in a skillet with some warm water over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until it's heated through. Alternatively, reheat in the oven at 356ºF (180ºC) for 15-20 minutes until warmed. Alternatively, reheat leftovers in the microwave with some extra water until heated through.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 833kcal | Carbohydrates: 100g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 878mg | Potassium: 309mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1875IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 181mg | Iron: 2mg