Thursday, January 31, 2013

Fusilli in Pesto Sauce



Ingredients for Pesto sauce
Fresh basil leaves    -   1 1/2 cup   
Garlic cloves – 3 nos                      
Walnuts  - 1/4 cup  
Parmesan cheese, grated   -  1/3 cup       
Extra virgin olive oil  -  1/4 cup               
Salt to taste (to be added when pouring over pasta)
Ingredients for Pasta
Fusilli  -   160 g                               
Pesto Sauce    -   1/3 cup    
Pasta cooking water  -  3 tbsp       
extra virgin olive oil            1 tbsp 
salt to taste

Method:
Prepare the pesto sauce:
Rinse the leaves briefly and then pat them dry between 2 paper towels. Drop the garlic into a food processor and finely chop it. Then add the walnuts and basil, then process until it is chopped. Gradually add the grated cheese and work the mixture into an evenly blended paste. Finally, slowly mix in the olive oil, until a creamy, but thick consistency is achieved. (It is preferable to add the salt only later, when pouring the sauce over the pasta, to avoid the darkening of the basil.)Transfer the pesto to a small bowl and add olive oil just to cover it to prevent the oxidation (and darkening) of its surface. Cover the bowl with a cling wrap and chill until ready to use.

Cook the Pasta:
Fill a large pot with 4 cups of water, Put on high heat and cover. Once the water is boiling, add the salt (approximately 4 teaspoons of table salt). When the water gets to a rolling boil, you can add the pasta. Stir immediately with a wooden spoon to prevent the pasta from sticking together or to the base of the pot. Continue to cook without the lid on. Stir briefly from time to time. Take one sample with a fork; It must be soft on the outside but still firm inside. When the pasta is ready, drain rapidly in a colander/strainer and keep it aside.

Final step:
While the pasta is cooking, put the pesto sauce in a small bowl, then add salt (1/2 teaspoon), 3 tbsp of pasta cooking water, which will warm up the sauce and will dilute it a bit. Put the drained Fusilli back into the pasta cooking pot, add the sauce, extra virgin oil and mix well. Garnish with Cheese and Serve warmed.



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