pesto pasta
A super-fast recipe to make when you're tired or busy.
Thought you couldn't eat pesto? Think again! You can buy wonderful dairy-free cheese which makes a fantastic pesto. I find the harder types of d-f cheese (often called cheddar-style) best for this, but any of them work well. This recipe freezes well, so you can prepare a large batch - especially if basil is in season and inexpensive - and freeze individual portions for when you're just too tired or just don't have any spare time to cook.
preparation time 2 minutes
cooking time 10-13 minutes
serves 4
3-4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
400g gluten-free pasta 50g basil 2 tbsp pine nuts 1 garlic clove, roughly chopped 40g dairy-free cheese sea salt 1 Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil. Add 1 tablespoon of the oil, then the pasta. Cook over a medium heat for about 8-10 minutes, or according to the packet instructions, stirring frequently so that the pasta does not stick together.
2 Meanwhile, wash the basil under the running cold tap, and carefully pat dry in a clean tea towel.
3 Heat a heavy-based frying pan over a low heat. Add the pine nuts and dry-fry for 2-3 minutes, until they start to brown. Keep the nuts moving all the time so they don't burn.
4 Remove from the heat and tip the nuts into the bowl of a food processor. Add the basil leaves, garlic and dairy-free cheese, and start to blend the mixture. With the motor running, pour the remaining oil in gradually until the mixture becomes a thick, dense sauce. Add salt to taste.
5 Drain the pasta and rinse well with boiling water, then drain again. Serve immediately with the sauce.
related ingredients: buckwheat pasta,
millet pasta,
quinoa pasta,
rice pasta,
soya cheese
