Gin Basil Pesto Pasta
A vibrant pasta dish infused with fresh basil, garlic, and a hint of citrus, inspired by the speed and simplicity of Gin's performance. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, blends spaghetti, fresh basil, garlic into a versatile sauce that lifts everything from grain bowls and roasted vegetables to grilled proteins — a small-batch staple worth keeping in the fridge. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 4, so a small batch covers several meals across the week without taking over the fridge. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 12 oz spaghetti
- 1 cup, packed fresh basil
- 3 cloves, minced garlic
- 1 medium, zested and juiced lemon
- 1/2 cup, grated parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Cook spaghetti in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
- Step 2: In a food processor, combine basil, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, parmesan, olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Pulse until smooth, adding a tablespoon of pasta water to achieve a creamy consistency.
- Step 3: Toss the hot pasta into the pesto mixture, stirring until coated. Add more pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce. Serve immediately, garnished with additional parmesan.
