What is pesto cream sauce made of?

It might seem obvious, but creamy pesto is made with heavy cream and pesto! I love to use my simple basil walnut pesto for this creamy pesto pasta recipe, but any basil pesto will work well. Heavy cream is the best way to make this creamy pesto sauce, but half and half or coconut milk would work in its place.

How do you make creamy pesto sauce from scratch?

The best way to make creamy pesto sauce from scratch is to start with a quick and easy homemade basil pesto. Basil pesto takes just a few minutes to whiz together in a food processor and uses just a handful of simple ingredients - basil, nuts (typically pine nuts, but I usually use walnuts), Parmesan cheese, fresh garlic, and salt. In this recipe, I combine a homemade pesto, with some sauteed garlic, dried herbs, white wine, and heavy cream. It creates the most luxurious creamy pesto sauce that's rich but not too heavy.

What goes well in pesto pasta?

I love to add fresh tomatoes to my creamy pesto pasta. Tomatoes and basil go together like peanut butter and jelly. So I always try to pair them together for a classic flavor profile. Of course, grated Parmesan ties the fresh basil and fresh tomatoes together and adds a salty nutty flavor as well. I also like to add roasted broccoli, fresh spinach, and grilled chicken or sauteed shrimp!

Can you just add pesto to pasta?

You certainly can just add pesto to pasta, but pesto is a bit thick to use by itself as a pasta sauce. That's why in this recipe I add the heavy cream and a splash of white wine, plus the liquid from the cooked-down tomatoes. That helps to loosen up the pesto and create a creamy sauce that coats every nook and cranny of your pasta.

Creamy Pesto Pasta with Tomatoes

Name: Creamy Pesto Pasta
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons olive oil; 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced; 1 teaspoon dried thyme; 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved; 1/4 cup white wine; 1/3 cup heavy cream; 1/2 cup basil pesto; Kosher salt; fresh cracked pepper; 16 oz. linguine, cooked al dente; grated Parmesan and fresh basil for garnish

Creamy Pesto Pasta

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This Creamy Pesto Pasta is the perfect combination of indulgent comfort food and fresh, light summer flavors! Ripe, juicy tomatoes combine with white wine and garlic for a quick sauce base, then add heavy cream and fresh basil pesto for an easy vegetarian weeknight dinner!

Author: Kylie
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 8 servings 1x
Category: Main Dish
Method: Stove Top
Cuisine: Italian
Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Units Scale

3 tablespoons olive oil
4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup white wine
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup basil pesto
Kosher salt
fresh cracked pepper
16 oz. linguine, cooked al dente
grated Parmesan and fresh basil for garnish

Instructions

Heat oil in a large pan over medium-low heat. Add garlic and dried thyme.
Cook, stirring frequently for 30 seconds.
Add tomatoes and white wine and cook over medium-low heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Remove from heat and add heavy cream and pesto.
Add linguine and toss to coat evenly. Return to heat and cook for just a minute or two, until the noodles are heated through.
Serve with grated Parmesan and fresh basil and enjoy!

large saute pan

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Notes

Moderately salt pasta water and cook just until al dente. I recommend adding 2-4 tablespoons of Kosher salt to the water just after it comes to a boil and before adding the pasta. This is your first chance to season the pasta and will really make such a huge difference in the overall flavor of this dish.

To make this dish vegan, just substitute coconut milk in place of the heavy cream and use vegan pesto. My favorite vegan pesto brand is Amore. OR you can make my super easy basil pesto recipe, but omit the Parmesan, adding a couple tablespoons of nutritional yeast instead. In my opinion, nothing compares to fresh pesto but it’s not always a reality on a busy weeknight, so store-bought will work just fine too!

The creamy sauce will thicken as it cools. But a quick splash of pasta water, heavy cream, or milk will loosen it up again in no time!

Reheat pasta in a pan over medium heat. Add a splash of liquid to loosen up the sauce and cook, stirring frequently for about 4-5 minutes or until heated through. Season to taste with salt and pepper.