Best 6 Simple Creamy Pesto Pasta Recipes

SIMPLE CREAMY PESTO PASTA

Steps:

• Put pasta on to boil.
• While the pasta is cooking, melt the first lot of butter and saute mushrooms, garlic and proscuitto (or ham). Remove from pan, keep warm.
• Melt second lot of butter. Add flour and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.
• Stir in stock and milk and cook, stirring frequently, until sauce thickens.
• Add the mushrooms, proscuitto and cheese.
• Stir until cheese is melted.
• Add the pesto, salt and pepper.
• Toss hot pasta with sauce and serve immediately.

FETTUCCINE WITH CREAMY PESTO

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs for al dente, adding the spinach during the last 30 seconds of cooking. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain the pasta and spinach.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the heavy cream, nutmeg, lemon zest and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Increase the heat to medium high and bring the liquid to a simmer. Add the pasta and spinach and toss until coated, about 1 minute. Stir in the cheese and season with salt and pepper. Stir in enough of the reserved cooking water to loosen the sauce.
• Remove from the heat and immediately stir in the pesto. Divide among bowls; top with pepper and more parmesan.

CREAMY RAMP PESTO PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil for pasta. Set aside an ice-water bath in a medium bowl.
• Blanch the ramp leaves in boiling water for 15 seconds. Remove with a spider or slotted spoon and immediately plunge them into the ice bath. Drain the leaves and dry on a kitchen towel. Tops should be bright and vibrant green in color.
• Add the blanched leaves to a food processor with 1/4 of the ramp bulbs and stems, plus the lemon zest and juice, the pistachios and the Parmigiano-Reggiano. Pulse to finely chop, and stream in the olive oil until the pesto comes together into a thick sauce. Taste and, if desired, add more bulbs and stems, a few at a time, then add salt to taste and pulse to combine. (Reserve the remaining bulbs and stems for use in dressings, sautéed vegetable dishes or eggs.)
• Place the ricotta or mascarpone in large mixing bowl.
• Salt the pasta water and cook pasta about 1 minute less than package directions for al dente. Just before draining, remove 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water and add to the ricotta or mascarpone to soften and loosen the cheese. Add the ramp pesto and stir to combine. Drain pasta, add to sauce and toss to coat. Transfer pasta to a serving dish or individual bowls, and top with a generous amount of pink peppercorn.

SIMPLE PESTO PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a rolling boil; cook the fettuccini at a boil until cooked through yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes; drain. Transfer the fettuccini to a bowl.
• Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook the garlic and pesto in the melted butter until warmed, 2 to 3 minutes; pour over the fettuccini and toss to coat.

CREAMY PESTO PASTA ITALIANA

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions; drain well and keep warm.
• Meanwhile, in a medium skillet cook basil and garlic in hot oil about 1 minute.
• Reduce heat and add cream cheese, cottage cheese, and Parmesan cheese; stir until smooth.
• Stir in white wine, parsley, and water (or vegetable broth, if using).
• Cook uncovered for 3 to 5 minutes or until slightly thickened.
• Add pasta and mix until well coated.
• Serve each dish garnished with fresh basil and additional freshly grated pamesan cheese if desired.

EASY CREAMY PESTO

Steps:

• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in heavy cream. Add flour and mix well to remove clumps. Season with salt and pepper.
• Stir sour cream and pesto into the saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, stirring, until flavors combine, 2 to 3 minutes more.