Light Lemon Pesto Pasta

4.4

(66)

52 Reviews

17 Photos

Light, yet full of flavor, this pesto is perfect tossed with hot spaghetti for a quick dinner. It is also excellent as a pizza sauce or smeared on hot French bread. It freezes well to preserve the bounty of summer basil.

Submitted by Baking Nana

Updated on August 29, 2023

17

Prep Time:

15 mins

Cook Time:

15 mins

Total Time:

30 mins

Servings:

6

Yield:

6 servings

Jump to Nutrition Facts

Ingredients

1 (16 ounce) package spaghetti
4 ounces Pecorino-Romano cheese, cut into cubes
6 cloves garlic
2 cups loosely packed baby spinach leaves
1 cup firmly packed basil leaves
½ cup chopped walnuts
¼ cup lemon juice
¼ teaspoon lemon zest
¼ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti at a boil until cooked through but firm to the bite, about 12 minutes; drain. Transfer spaghetti to a large bowl.
Put cubed Romano cheese in the bowl of a food processor; process until coarsely grated, about 30 seconds. Put garlic into the food processor and process until the cheese and garlic are combined. Add spinach, basil, walnuts, lemon juice, lemon zest, and salt; process until the mixture comes together into a thick paste. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula.
With food processor running, drizzle olive oil into the mixture. Continue processing until the oil is integrated smoothly.
Pour sauce over spaghetti and toss to coat.

Recipe Tip

If you have an abundance of basil, this can be made with 3 cups of loosely packed basil.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

465	Calories
17g	Fat
60g	Carbs
18g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Calories 465
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 17g	22%
Saturated Fat 5g	24%
Cholesterol 20mg	7%
Sodium 337mg	15%
Total Carbohydrate 60g	22%
Dietary Fiber 4g	13%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 18g	36%
Vitamin C 10mg	11%
Calcium 255mg	20%
Iron 4mg	19%
Potassium 327mg	7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

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