This pasta dish is SO delicious!! It combines two of my favorite pasta dishes together, pesto and Caio E Pepe!! The combination is absolutely mouthwatering!! This easy to make, family favorite weeknight meal can be ready and on the table in 15 minutes!! It is delicious paired with a glass of white wine.
Ingredients:
-3/4 box of spaghetti or bucatini
-2 cups of fresh grated parmesan.
-1 tablespoon of olive oil
-2 tablespoons of salted butter
-2 teaspoons of ground black pepper (divided)
-1 clove of garlic
-1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
-1/2-1 cup pasta water
Pistachio Pesto:
-2 cups fresh basil leaves
-1/2 cup olive oil (a good one)
-1/2 cup of fresh grated parmesan
-4 cloves of garlic
-1/4 cup of salted pistachios
-1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
-1/2 tsp ground pepper
-1/4 tsp salt
Next Step:
-Using your blender add in the fresh basil, olive oil, parmesan, garlic, pistachios, red pepper flakes, ground pepper, and salt. Blend until smooth and set aside.
-Boil a large pot of water. Once boiling salt your water.
-Cook pasta al dente.
-With 5 minutes to go for your pasta, add the olive oil and butter in a pan on low heat. Once melted add in 1 teaspoon of pepper and 1 clove of garlic. Stir the garlic around the pan for 2 minutes and then remove. This will lightly flavor the olive oil.
-Take out 1/2 cup of pasta water and set aside.
-Directly from the boiling water, with tongs take out your pasta and put directly in the butter/olive oil mixture. Once you have transferred all of your pasta, add 1 and 3/4 cups of parmesan, the ground black pepper, and the red pepper flakes.
-Mix and add around 1/4-1/2 cup of the pasta water. (add more if needed)
-Let simmer for a couple of minutes and you will see it thicken up.
-Add the pasta to a plate and spoon on the pistachio pesto right on top!
-Serve and sprinkle with the remaining parmesan cheese.
-ENJOY!!
*For more recipes, please visit my Instagram page @a.sprinkle.of.sweet