As you know by now I am obsessed with anything pesto! Pesto is incredibly versatile and can be altered with so many ingredients. This pesto has one of my favorite fruits in it, zucchini! (Yes, zucchini is actually a fruit and not a vegetable!) Zucchini is packed with vitamins, nutrients, antioxidants, and can even aid your bones, thyroid, and heart health!
This pesto is always a big hit with my family!
Ingredients:
-1 pound orecchiette pasta
-1 cup chopped zucchini
-2 cups fresh basil
-1/4 cup light olive oil
-1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
-1/3 cup of pine nuts
-1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
-3/4 teaspoon ground pepper
-1/2 teaspoon salt
-1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Next Step:
-Boil a large pot of water on the stovetop. Once boiling add a teaspoon of salt and the orecchiette pasta. Cook to al dente.
-While the pasta is cooking add the zucchini, basil, olive oil, parmesan cheese, pine nuts, lemon juice, pepper, salt, and red pepper flakes to your blender.
-Blend on high until you have a nice and smooth consistency.
-Before you strain the pasta, set aside 1/2 cup of pasta water.
-Strain the pasta and immediately put back into the same pot.
-Add as much pesto as you would like to the pasta and 2-3 tablespoons of pasta water.
-Stir to combine. Add more pasta water and pesto as needed.
-Plate the pasta and sprinkle fresh parmesan on top!
-Serve and ENJOY!
*For more recipes, please visit my Instagram page @a.sprinkle.of.sweet