Beef Pesto Pasta
A flavorful pasta dish combining tender beef, vibrant basil pesto, and al dente penne for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Pesto
- 3 cups basil leaves loosely packed, leaves trimmed from stems
- 0.5 cup pistachio nuts
- 2 cloves garlic
- 0.5 cup pecorino romano cheese (Note 1)
- 80 ml olive oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice (Note 2)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 500 grams beef (cut into stir fry long thin strips)
- 0.25 tsp kosher salt (cooking salt)
- 0.25 tsp cracked black pepper
- 500 grams penne pasta
- 0.5 cup reserved pasta water (Note 3)
Garnish
- grated pecorino romano
- cracked black pepper
- basil leaves
Instructions
- Cook beef in 1 tablespoon olive oil over high heat until browned, then set aside.
- Make pesto by blending basil, pistachios, garlic, pecorino, and olive oil; add lemon juice to taste.
- Cook pasta in boiling salted water; reserve 0.5 cup pasta water, then drain.
- Combine pasta, beef, and pesto in a pan; add reserved pasta water and toss to coat.
- Garnish with grated pecorino, cracked black pepper, and basil leaves before serving.
Notes
For best flavor, use fresh basil and high-quality pecorino romano.