Creamy Pesto Pasta

This is a super simple recipe, I made it last night. This was really good and very useful for those nights when you really don't have a clue as to what to make !

I made my own pesto sauce. You could also use the store bought sauce, I have tried both and I prefer the home made one because the store bought one has preservatives.

The recipe is as follows :

Prep Time - 5 mins
Cooking time - 20 mins

Ingredients :

For pesto sauce :

Fresh basil - 1 cup
Pine nuts - 1/2 cup
Garlic - 4 medium sized pods
Asiago cheese - 1/2 cup, grated , ( I bought 6 months aged cheese )
Extra virgin olive oil - 1/4 cup
Ground black pepper - 1 tsp
Salt as per taste

For alfredo sauce :

Butter - 1/4 cup
Milk - 1/2 cup + ( optional )1/4 cup
All purpose flour - 1 tbsp
Asiago cheese - 1/2 cup, shredded

Pasta - I used ribbed penne , you can also use capellini or farfalle
Carrot - 1 medium sized, shredded length wise

Procedure :

Cook your pasta al dente and keep aside.

Also Asiago cheese can be replaced by parmesan cheese , as the aged asiago cheese tastes similar to parmesan. But next time I would prefer using fresher asiago cheese over the aged one ( due to its pungent odor ).

Pesto sauce :

In a food processor, blend together basil leaves, pine nuts, garlic, and cheese into a fine paste. Pour in oil slowly while still mixing. Add salt and pepper and stir.

Alfredo sauce :

In a medium sized pan melt butter on medium heat. Add in the flour and stir with a whisk to prevent lumps from forming. Slowly add milk , whisking constantly and cook till it starts too thicken (Let the sauce thicken to your liking, I cooked it till it had the consistency of say condensed milk). Add cheese and mix properly and now your alfredo sauce is done.

Turn the heat to low and add in the required amount of pesto sauce. I added about 4-5 tbsp of pesto sauce. Mix properly.

 

Pour this sauce over hot pasta, add the shredded carrots and mix. Serve with Italian bread or French baguette.

Mac and Cheese with veggies

Prep Time - 20 mins
Baking Time - 15 mins

Ingredients :

Elbow Macaroni - 10.5 oz / 300 gms
Carrots - 2, diced
Corn kernels - 1 cup
All-purpose flour - 4 tbps
Milk - 2 cups
Butter - 3 + 1 tbps
Bread Crumbs - 1 cup
Cheddar cheese - 1 cup, grated
Salt - 2 tsp or as per taste
Pepper - 1 tsp

Procedure :

Cook the elbow macaroni al dente and keep aside. Cook the carrots and corn.

Preheat the oven at 400 F (200 deg) and grease the baking tray.

Heat a wok and add a tbsp of butter on low heat and toss in the breadcrumbs and cook till all the breadcrumbs are covered with butter. This should take a minute or so.
In the same pan melt 3 tbsp of butter on medium heat , add the all-purpose flour and stir till you get a creamy mixture. Remove the wok from heat and pour milk, stirring simultaneously. Once mixed properly, place on low heat till the sauce starts to boil. Add 1/4 cup of cheese, salt and pepper. Mix and keep aside.

Now take the greased baking dish and spread the elbow macaroni (1st layer), Carrots and corn mix( 2nd layer). Pour the sauce evenly over the macaroni and vegetables(3rd layer), spread the remaining grated cheese (4th layer) and sprinkle the buttered breadcrumbs evenly and bake for 15 mins or till the top layer becomes golden brown. Serve hot.

How to cook pasta Al dente

Pasta "Al dente" means that the pasta is cooked enough to be firm but not soft.

Here's the method to cook your pasta "Al dente" . I used approx 450 grams of Barilla's Penne pasta

1.Take the pasta in a bowl and wash it once or twice, add water to it such that the pasta is well submerged. To this add add a tsp of olive oil and stir it with a spoon.

2. Microwave it for 10-11 minutes approx and stir it once halfway.

3.To confirm that the pasta is "Al dente",  take one piece and press it - it should be pliable yet firm enough. If it is hard then microwave for an additional minute and repeat the press test.

4.Take the "Al dente" pasta and drain the excess water in a colander  immediately and wash it with cold water. Traces of the oil will be present on the drained pasta.


Note: The microwaving time varies with the type of pasta and the microwave setting. I would advise using shorter intervals and checking with the press test if you are not sure of the exact cooking time for your type and quantity of pasta.

Serving tip: Spread the "Al dente" pasta loosely on a flat plate and pour the sauces as per choice and  requirements  just before serving .