Green Pistachio Pesto Pasta with Lemon Zest and Parmesan

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Al dente pasta tossed in a vibrant homemade pistachio pesto, brightened with fresh lemon zest and topped with Parmesan cheese. This Italian-inspired brunch recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 22 minutes, combines pasta (fusilli or penne), unsalted shelled pistachios, fresh basil leaves into a breakfast that fuels the morning without the midday crash — make-ahead-friendly and balanced enough to anchor the first meal of the day. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 4, so it sits comfortably in a weekly breakfast rotation alongside fruit, yogurt, or coffee. 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.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 12 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 480 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 12 oz pasta and cook for 9-11 minutes until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water and drain the rest.
  2. Step 2: Meanwhile, in a food processor, combine 3/4 cup unsalted shelled pistachios, 1 cup packed fresh basil leaves, 2 garlic cloves, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1 tsp lemon zest, 1 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Pulse until coarsely chopped.
  3. Step 3: With the processor running, slowly drizzle in 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil until the pesto is smooth and emulsified.
  4. Step 4: Transfer the drained pasta to a large bowl. Add the pistachio pesto and toss to coat evenly, adding reserved pasta water 1 tbsp at a time until desired sauce consistency is reached.
  5. Step 5: Serve immediately with additional grated Parmesan and a sprinkle of lemon zest if desired.

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