Sunday, January 18, 2015

Fettuccine with Creamy Pesto Sauce

Creamy Pesto Pasta is something that Justin and I have been making for quite a long time- we originally came across it as a way to use up all the basil we were getting from our little flower pot garden.  Most recently we've made it using beet pasta, but it still works as a fantastic recipe with regular fettuccine as well.  Also, it works even better as leftovers than it does the first day, as the flavor of the herbs gets a chance to really work its way into the pasta.  One of our favorite homemade pasta sauces for sure.

Ingredients:
16 oz dried penne, rotini, or fettuccini
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil or 8 tsp dried (but trust me- it tastes better with the fresh)
8 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp olive oil
8 oz pkg cream cheese or Neufchâtel
1 cup cottage cheese
2/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 Tbsp white grape juice concentrate
2 Tbsp white wine vinegar (If you feel like following the recipe more directly, you can use 1/4 cup white wine instead of the vinegar and grape juice concentrate, but it still turns out very well with the alcohol substitute)
1/2 cup water

Directions:
Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente.  Drain and keep warm.
Meanwhile, for sauce, cook basil and garlic in hot oil for about 30 seconds.  Reduce heat.  Add cream cheese, cottage cheese, and parmesan cheese.  heat and stir until nearly smooth.  Stir in parsley, wine or juice concentrate and vinegar, and water.  Cook, uncovered, for 3 minutes.  Add milk or water if necessary to reach desired consistency (we've never added it).  Serve sauce over pasta.

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