Homemade pesto can be made in the time it takes for the pasta to boil, so this is really a quick stovetop meal. The recipe links to the homemade pesto post, but I've included the homemade pesto recipe below for your convenience.

Recipe

Rigatoni on a white plate topped with shredded parmesan cheese and pesto.

Pasta with Homemade Pesto

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Delicious homemade pesto is easy to make and needs no cooking, just blending, and it is ready by the time the pasta is done cooking.

Mary Ann

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Course Main Dish

Cuisine Italian, Vegetarian

Servings servings

Calories 395

Ingredients

Pasta & Garnish

16 oz rigatoni
½ cup Parmesan cheese, for garnish

Pesto

2 cups fresh basil leaves
¼ cup Parmesan cheese
½ cup olive oil
3 tablespoons pine nuts
3 cloves garlic

Instructions

Boil the pasta

Prepare 16 oz rigatoni according to package directions.

Make the pesto

While the pasta is cooking, make the pesto.
Flatten 3 cloves garlic with the side of a knife and coarsely chop.
Place 2 cups fresh basil leaves into a food processor and process until well chopped.
Add a third of the 3 tablespoons pine nuts and ⅓ of the chopped garlic and blend again.
Add about a third of the ¼ cup Parmesan cheese and blend slowly while adding about a third of the ½ cup olive oil.
Stop to scrape the sides of the food processor, pushing the contents toward the bottom. Process until a smooth, think paste if formed.
Repeat the process twice more with the remaining pesto ingredients until all pesto ingredients are used.

Combine, garnish, and serve

Add homemade pesto to prepared rigatoni and toss to coat.
Garnish with ½ cup Parmesan cheese and serve.

Nutrition per serving

Calories: 395 calCarbohydrates: 44 gProtein: 12 gFat: 19 gSodium: 154 mgFiber: 2 gSugar: 2 g

Photo is a pile of basil leaves, a glass measuring cup with olive oil, a pile of shredded parmesan cheese, garlic cloves, and a pile of pine nuts, on a wooden cutting board.

Homemade Pesto

Delicious homemade pesto is easy to make and needs no cooking, just blending.