Basil Pesto Pasta And Garlic bread

Sometimes you are craving something really special but are too tired to go out and wait in long queue to get seated. Specially if it a fancy Italian restaurant. Lets face it, Italian food is one of the most exotic food and everyone I know loves it. I prefer having Italian on special occasion and basil pesto just takes things to whole new level. So if you would like to make some quick and delicious pasta, look no further. Lets get to it

Pasta Preparation:

1. In a large pot , boil some water and add pasta , salt and few drops of oil in it. Cook it according to the packet instructions and once the pasta is boiled, drain out the excess water and keep it aside

2. In a blender jar add about 30-50 large Thai basil leaves, handful of soaked cashews or pine nuts, 2-3 garlic cloves, salt, black pepper and about 1/4 cup of olive oil and blend until you get a paste

3. Now i like a think sauce so i add this paste to white sauce. In a sauce pan on low medium flame, add vegan butter or oil and add about 1 teaspoon of all purpose flour , slightly roast it and then gradually add some plant based milk (i prefer unflavored soy milk) gradually while stirring continuously to avoid forming any lumps.

4. Keep adding milk and stirring continuously for about 1/2 cup of the milk. Once the paste becomes slightly think, add about 2 teaspoons of nutritional yeast (this is optional)

5. In this sauce add salt , a pinch of black pepper, oregano or any other Italian seasoning .

6. Now add the basil pesto paste to the sauce and mix well for 2 minutes till the sauce is well combined. At this point add the pasta and mix well to coat the pasta with the pesto

7. The pasta is ready to be served hot

Garlic Bread Preparation:

1. Mince about 2 cloves of garlic

2. On a medium heat (on griddle or a pan), add about half a teaspoon of vegan butter and slightly roast the garlic

3. Use this garlic butter to toast the bread so that the garlic flavor gets deeply infused in the bread. Remove from heat once slightly toasted

Garnish:

1. Slice up some cherry tomatoes and olives

2. Roll up about 3-4 basil leaves and shred them to thin slices

3. You can optionally roast about half cup of sweet corn in about a teaspoon of vegan butter with some spices (i used garlic chili powder), for 5 minutes , just to let the corn soften in butter and spices.

4. Serve hot pasta , with garlic bread and corn and decorate the plate with tomato slices, olive and basil shreds

Enjoy the fresh basil pasta :)

Lovely contrasting color....treat to my eyes and my tongue

Pasta nights !! Comfort food