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A close-up of a bowl of cavatappi pasta tossed with vibrant green pesto and topped with grated Parmesan cheese.

10-Minute Pasta with Garlic Pesto

A quick and easy pasta dish ready in 10 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights. This recipe features a fresh garlic pesto and tender elbow pasta.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian-inspired
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Pesto
  • 20 cloves garlic
  • 20 leaves basil
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
For the Pasta
  • 1 pound elbow pasta
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 shallot chopped

Equipment

  • Food processor
  • Large pot
  • Colander

Method
 

  1. Make pesto by combining garlic, basil, salt, pepper, and olive oil in a food processor. Blend until it resembles chunky pesto.
  2. Boil water with salt and add pasta. Cook for 1 minute less than package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water.
  3. Drain the pasta. Heat a large pan over medium-high heat. Add 3 tablespoons of olive oil and the chopped shallot. Cook for 1 minute.
  4. Add the garlic pesto to the pan and cook for 30 seconds.
  5. Add the drained pasta and reserved pasta water to the pan. Stir for 1 minute to combine. Stir in the Parmesan cheese and serve.

Notes

You can adjust the amount of garlic and basil to your preference. If the pesto is too thick, you can add a little more olive oil.

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