Il Cucinologo
EN

Carrot Pesto Pasta

17/11/2023

Carrot pesto pasta is a colorful and nutritious dish, a creative way to enjoy an unconventional pesto. Here is the recipe to prepare this unique and tasty dish.

Ingredients

  • 320 g of pasta of your choice (penne, fusilli, spaghetti, etc.)
  • 4-5 large carrots
  • 30 g of pine nuts (or almonds if you prefer an alternative)
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • 60 g of grated Parmesan (or pecorino if you prefer)
  • A bunch of basil (about 20 g)
  • 60 ml of extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste.

Preparation

  1. Start by cleaning and peeling the carrots. Cut them into rounds and steam or boil them until tender but still slightly al dente.
  2. Meanwhile, toast the pine nuts (or almonds) in a non-stick pan over medium heat until golden. Be careful not to burn them.
  3. In the blender, add the cooked carrots, toasted pine nuts (or almonds), the garlic clove (you can reduce the amount if you prefer a less intense flavor), grated Parmesan, basil leaves, a pinch of salt and pepper, and blend everything, adding the extra virgin olive oil gradually, until you obtain a creamy and homogeneous consistency.
  4. Taste the carrot pesto and adjust salt and pepper if necessary. If the pesto is too thick, you can add a bit of pasta cooking water to make it more fluid.
  5. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the instructions on the package. Drain it al dente, reserving some cooking water.
  6. Mix the pasta with the carrot pesto in a large bowl or directly in the pan, adding a bit of cooking water if necessary to combine everything well.
  7. Serve the carrot pesto pasta hot, with an additional sprinkle of Parmesan and basil leaves for decoration.

Trivia

The carrot pesto is a surprisingly flavorful variant of the classic Genoese pesto. The sweetness of the carrots pairs perfectly with the savoriness of the cheese and the aroma of basil, giving the dish an original note and an inviting color. Moreover, it is a great option to incorporate more vegetables into your diet in a creative way.

Note: If you have additional ingredients available or specific preferences, do not hesitate to customize the recipe to your liking!