Pesto Pasta Recipe with Tuna Fish Cakes for Healthy Eating

pine nuts

🥗Healthier: walnuts

💰Cheaper: sunflower seeds

Walnuts provide a similar texture and flavor at a lower cost.

parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grana padano

Nutritional yeast is a dairy-free option, while grana padano is a less expensive cheese.

Boil water in a large pot and add salt until it tastes like the sea.

Add pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente, according to package instructions.

While the pasta cooks, prepare the pesto by adding basil, pine nuts, garlic, and salt to a food processor.

Pulse the mixture until finely chopped, scraping down the sides as necessary.

With the processor running, slowly drizzle in olive oil until the mixture is smooth and emulsified.

Add grated parmesan cheese to the pesto and pulse briefly to combine.

Taste the pesto and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper as needed.

Once the pasta is cooked, reserve a cup of pasta water and drain the rest.

Return the drained pasta to the pot and add the pesto, tossing to coat evenly.

If the pesto is too thick, add reserved pasta water a little at a time to achieve desired consistency.

Serve immediately, garnished with additional parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of black pepper.

Cooking Techniques

Spice Level:

Allergens