Mains
Pasta with Homemade Vegan Basil Pesto
Fresh, bright green pesto made in minutes, without Parmesan.
Ingredients
How many servings?
3
Quantities are approximate and adjust automatically with your chosen number of servings.
Method
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions, reserving a little cooking water.
- Briefly pulse the basil, walnuts, garlic, oil, lemon juice and nutritional yeast in a blender.
- Toss the pesto with the pasta and add a little cooking water to make a light sauce.
- Serve immediately with a little black pepper if you like.
- Before serving, check: Taste one piece a minute before the packet time: it should be cooked through but still have a little bite.
Beginner-friendly tips
Read these three practical tips before cooking. Check how the food looks and feels, not just the clock.
- Use a large enough pot so the water returns to a boil after adding pasta. Stir during the first minute to prevent sticking.
- Taste one piece a minute before the packet time: it should be cooked through but still have a little bite.
- Reserve some starchy pasta water before draining. Add it by the spoonful to loosen a thick sauce rather than adding lots of extra oil.