Linguine With Winter Pesto Recipes

Steps:

• Using a pestle and mortar, combine the basil, cheeses, pine nuts, garlic, and salt and grind until a paste is formed. Add the olive oil slowly and mix with the mashed basil mixture until well combined.
• Prepare pasta in boiling water and drain. Using a hot skillet, place pasta in skillet and add the pesto to the warm pasta. Stir the pesto into the pasta and serve.

Steps:

• Make the pesto: Heat a skillet and lightly toast the pine nuts until fragrant. Set aside. Blanch the basil (to prevent oxidizing) by bringing a pot of water to a boil and preparing an ice bath. Place the basil in the boiling water for 15 seconds; then immediately remove with a slotted spoon to an ice bath to stop the cooking. When the basil is cool, remove, squeeze out the water, and set aside. In a blender, add the basil, pine nuts, garlic, oil, a pinch of salt, and ¼ cup Parmesan. Mix until combined but still slightly chunky. Remove to a bowl and stir in 1/4 cup Parmesan.
• Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of water with three pinches of salt to a boil. Add the potatoes, cover, and bring back to a boil, 2-3 minutes. Add the linguine to the boiling water and after several minutes, add the green beans. Continue cooking until the pasta's al dente, about 3 minutes less than what the box advises. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, drain, and return the pasta, potatoes, and green beans to the pot.
• Assemble the dish: Toss the pasta water back into the pasta mixture; then stir in the pesto. Add the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan and toss, using the heat from the pasta to create a rich and aromatic sauce. Place in a serving bowl, top with more Parmesan, and serve.

Steps:

• Combine first 6 ingredients in processor and blend to coarse puree. Blend in cheese using on/off turns. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 week ahead. Transfer pesto to jar. Pour enough additional oil over pesto to cover completely. Cover and refrigerate. Pour off extra oil before using.)
• Cook linguine in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite. Drain well. Return to same pot. Add pesto sauce and toss to coat pasta evenly. Transfer to large platter. Garnish with chopped pine nuts.

Steps:

• When cooking the pasta, add a potato to the salted water. This trick returns to the pasta the starch it tends to lose in draining, thus preventing the linguine from clumping. Drain the pasta cubes along with the pasta, reserving a little of the cooking water. Transfer the pasta and potato to a large bowl and dress them with the pesto and butter. If the pasta looks too dry, add a little of the reserved cooking water. Serve in individual dishes, topping each with grated Parmesan cheese and pepper.
• If using a food processor, put the garlic, pine nuts, a pinch of salt, the basil, and the oil into the bowl and process it until the ingredients form a smooth paste. Add the Parmesan and the pecorino and pulse just to combine. Taste and adjust the salt.