Creamy Basil Pesto Pasta with Pine Nuts
Ingredients Featured in Our Creamy Basil Pesto Pasta with Pine Nuts
Recipe Overview
Bring a touch of gourmet to your daily meals with our creamy pesto pasta recipe. Whether you’re craving something rich and decadent, or just need a quick weeknight dinner, this pasta delivers with its silky pesto cream sauce and perfectly cooked pasta.
Flexible enough to suit gluten-free and vegan preferences, this dish can be customized with just a few simple swaps. Serve it up hot for a meal that’s as nourishing as it is delightful and experience the joys of a happy hormone meal that you won’t believe can possibly be good for you… but it is!
About Our
Creamy Basil Pesto Pasta with Pine Nuts
For a meal that’s both comforting and nutritious, try our Creamy Pesto Pasta. This dish celebrates the flavors of summer with a rich and creamy pesto sauce that clings to every bite of perfectly cooked gluten-free pasta. The pasta provides a substantial source of carbohydrates, essential for sustained energy, helping you stay alert and focused throughout your day. Opting for whole grain or gluten-free pasta adds fiber, aiding digestion and promoting a healthy gut.
Basil pesto is the heart of this dish, offering a fresh and herbaceous base enhanced by creamy coconut cream. This combination creates a luxurious, creamy sauce that coats the pasta beautifully. Basil, rich in essential oils, helps reduce digestive discomfort, making this meal both energizing and gut-friendly. Short gluten-free pasta like ziti, penne, or rigatoni works best. A sprinkle of red pepper flakes adds subtle heat, while freshly grated parmesan cheese offers a savory finish that ties all the flavors together.
Whether you’re looking to fuel up for a busy day or need a satisfying meal that supports digestive wellness, this creamy pesto pasta is a tasty and smart choice.
Cycle hacking™ with jihi
The Creamy Pesto Pasta is a versatile Cycle Hack™ for various phases of the menstrual cycle, providing both comfort and nourishment. During the luteal phase, the period just before menstruation, cravings for comforting, hearty foods often arise due to hormonal changes. This dish, with its rich texture and creamy sauce, offers satisfying comfort and helps stabilize blood sugar levels, boosting serotonin production for a natural mood lift. Adding red pepper flakes can boost circulation and ease premenstrual symptoms with their warming effect, while the basil supplies magnesium, aiding in easing cramps and promoting relaxation. The coconut cream offers a dairy-free alternative that helps reduce inflammation, a common issue during this phase.
In the follicular phase, the nutrient-rich ingredients in the creamy pesto pasta support rising energy levels and hormonal production. The healthy fats from the pesto and the coconut cream provide sustained energy, while the vitamins and minerals in the basil help with cellular regeneration. During the ovulating phase, this meal continues to support overall health and vitality, helping maintain a balanced internal environment. The anti-inflammatory properties of basil and the capsaicin in red pepper flakes further soothe inflammation and menstrual discomfort, making this pasta a delicious and soothing cycle hack for any phase.
Jihi Cycles
Jihi’s cutting-edge platform analyzes your cycle patterns, symptoms, dietary preferences, and goals to recommend the perfect Cycle Hacks™ for you – exactly when you need THEM MOST.
What You'll Need
BASIL PESTO
A fresh and herbaceous base rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.
COCONUT CREAM
Adds luxurious creaminess to the dish while keeping it dairy-free and vegan.
GLUTEN-FREE SHORT PASTA<br(Ziti, penne, rigatoni): The perfect base for holding the creamy pesto sauce.
RED PEPPER FLAKES
Add a hint of spice and capsaicin, which can help relieve pain and inflammation.
FRESHLY GRATED PARMESAN CHEESE
A savory garnish that enhances the pasta’s flavor. Can be omitted for a dairy-free version or substituted with a vegan alternative.
How to Make
Creamy Basil Pesto Pasta with Pine Nuts
COOK PASTA
Bring a pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
COMBINE PESTO AND CREAM
In the same pot, blend pesto with coconut cream to create a rich, flavorful base for coating the pasta.
ADJUST CONSISTENCY
For a thinner sauce, gradually incorporate reserved pasta water until you achieve your desired texture.
SERVE
Garnish with red pepper flakes and parmesan cheese (or vegan alternative) for a delicious finish.
FAQs
Can I add protein to this pasta?
Absolutely! Chicken or shrimp make excellent additions for a heartier meal.
How can I keep this dish vegan?
Using coconut cream instead of heavy cream and skipping the parmesan cheese keeps the dish vegan, or you can use a vegan cheese alternative.
What’s the best way to reheat leftovers?
Gently reheat on the stove with a bit of stock to loosen the sauce, ensuring it stays creamy.
Can I use homemade pesto?
Homemade pesto is a great choice and will add a personal touch to the dish.
Are there variations to this recipe?
Feel free to experiment with adding tomatoes for a burst of freshness or swapping in different herbs to tailor the flavor to your liking.
How can I make the sauce even creamier?
For an extra luxurious sauce, you can increase the amount of coconut cream or add a dollop of vegan cream cheese during the final mixing stage.
Still hungry?
For another hearty meal, try our Lentil Salad with Goat Cheese and Sweet Potatoes. This dish offers a delicious variation, with nutrient-packed lentils serving as the primary base and roasted sweet potatoes adding a natural sweetness.
If you’re craving a classic, our Kale Caesar Salad is hard to resist. It features a tangy homemade dressing and fresh, simple ingredients that make every bite irresistible.
And for a decadent, no-bake treat to satisfy your sweet tooth, try our No Bake Nutella Cake. This rich and satisfying dessert is perfect for any occasion, offering a delicious combination of creamy Nutella and a crunchy base that everyone will love.
Creamy Basil Pesto Pasta with Pine Nuts
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup basil pesto
- 1/4 cup coconut cream
- 12 oz short gluten-free pasta ziti, penne, rigatoni, etc.
- red pepper flakes optional
- 4 oz parmesan cheese (optional) freshly grated
Instructions
- Bring a pot of heavily salted water to a boil over high heat. Add pasta and cook to al dente according to package instructions.12 oz short gluten-free pasta
- Before draining the pasta, reserve 1 cup pasta cooking water to the side.
- Drain pasta and set aside.
- In the empty saucepan, add pesto and coconut cream. Stir to combine. Add pasta and stir to coat the pasta. If you like the consistency, you can serve now. If you prefer a thinner pesto coating, add pasta water 2 Tbsp at a time, stirring to fully incorporate. Add more water as needed, until desired consistency is achieved.1/2 cup basil pesto, 1/4 cup coconut cream
- Serve warm with red pepper flakes (if using) and freshly grated parmesan cheese.red pepper flakes, 4 oz parmesan cheese (optional)
Notes
- To make dairy-free, use coconut cream and omit cheese garnish
- To make gluten-free, use gluten-free pesto and gluten-free pasta.
- Leftovers can be stored for up to 3 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container. To reheat, do so in a saucepan on the stove over medium-low heat (or in the microwave). Add a splash of chicken stock or vegetable stock as needed to loosen up the sauce.