Ingredients: Servings (2) 377 calories
- 1 box of your favorite pasta
- 2 cups of fresh basil leaves, packed
- 1/2 cup of olive oil
- 1/2 cup of pine nuts
- 1/2 cup of grated parmesan cheese
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons of butter
- 1 cup of cherry tomatoes, halved
Instructions:
1. Start by bringing a large pot of salted water to a boil. Once boiling, add in the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente.
2. While the pasta is cooking, prepare the pesto. In a food processor or blender, combine the basil leaves, olive oil, pine nuts, parmesan cheese, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Blend until all ingredients are well combined and you have a smooth and creamy pesto sauce. ( You can also buy jarred pesto from your local grocery store)
3. Once the pasta is cooked, drain it and return it to the pot. Add in the pesto sauce and toss to coat the pasta evenly.
4. In a separate pan, heat the butter over medium heat. Once melted, add in the halved cherry tomatoes and cook for 2-3 minutes, until they start to soften and release their juices.
5. Add the cooked tomatoes to the pasta and mix everything together. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
6. Serve the pasta hot, add some extra basil and an extra sprinkle of parmesan cheese on top if desired. Enjoy!