Spaghetti with Parsley Almond Pesto
Parsley, rather than the traditional basil, makes this pesto a year-round staple. Because the taste of almonds is more delicate than that of the usual pine nuts, we have chopped rather than ground them. Their flavor really comes through when you bite in to a nutty chunk.Plus: More Pasta Recipes and Tips
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Ingredients
Directions
Notes
Variations
• Spaghetti with Parsley Almond Pesto and Parmesan: Stir 1/4 cup grated Parmesan into the parsley pesto after chopping the almonds.
• Spaghetti with Parsley Pine-Nut Pesto: Use 1/3 cup pine nuts in place of the almonds for a more traditional pesto.
What Is Pesto? Traditional pesto is an uncooked sauce from Genoa made with basil, garlic, olive oil, grated cheese, and pine nuts. More recently pesto, which literally means crushed, is being used as a general term to describe many herb-and-nut purees. Feel free to experiment with different herbs, nuts, and grated cheeses, depending on what you like and can get easily.
Suggested Pairing
With the parsley, olive oil, and almonds, a simple, lively white wine is best. Good examples are a Pinot Grigio from the Alto Adige and a Vernaccia di San Gimignano from Tuscany.