Pesto pasta

My sister is the requester for this recipe. I make a mean pesto with really simple ingredients. I made this pesto a few times, and it's been a hit with the fam!

Ingredients:

Sauce

200 g basil leaves (two packs from your local grocer)

4-5 cloves of garlic

125 mL olive oil

100 g pine nuts (I like to buy these in bulk)

100 g grated parmesan cheese

s&p to taste

Pasta

1 pack of pasta (I've used red-lentil pasta, rice-flour or whole wheat - all good options)

salt

10-12 cherry tomatoes (quartered)

200 g spinach (about 2 handfuls)

Steps:

1. Boil water with some salt (I like to make my pasta water salty so then I don't have to add more to the mix later on.

2. Add pasta and follow the instructions (typically boiling for 5-7 mins) before you drain the pasta, take a mug of the pasta water for later. This is a trick of mine!

3. While all this is happening, in a blender/food processor, blend together basil leaves, garlic, pine nuts, and parmesan cheese. If its really thick, add a little more olive oil.

4. Now that your pasta and pesto is almost done, add the pasta water to the pesto. The pasta water helps to make the sauce stick to the noodles and also adds that little extra salt. Taste the pesto and add salt and pepper to your liking after this step.

5. In the same pot that you boiled the pasta in, add the pasta, tomatoes, pesto, and spinach. I like to gradually add the sauce so it's completely incorporated.

6. Taste again, and ENJOY!

If you're short pine nuts, or want to switch up the cheese. Try using cashews or another hard cheese! It's an easy modification thats bound to satisfy your cravings!