Mascarpone Pesto Pasta
Mascarpone pesto pasta is a quick and delicious creamy dish that’s incredibly easy to make. Featuring simple ingredients like rich mascarpone cheese for a silky sauce, flavorful basil pesto, and juicy tomatoes for a fresh touch, this recipe delivers big on taste with minimal effort. Perfect for when you want to whip up an impressive Italian meal at home—ready in under 15 minutes and bursting with flavor.
Ingredients
- 500 g (1 lb.) spaghetti noodles
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ cup basil pesto
- ½ cup mascarpone cheese, at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper (or to taste)
- fresh basil leaves (for garnish)
- Parmesan cheese, freshly grated (for garnish)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook spaghetti according to package instructions or until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Do not overcook the pasta. Turn off the heat and reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta in a colander and let it cool for 1 minute.
- Transfer pasta into a large mixing bowl and add pesto, mascarpone cheese, lemon juice and ½ cup reserved pasta water (add up to ½ cup more if desired). Stir in cherry tomatoes, and season with salt and pepper. Toss well to coat.
- Top with fresh basil, Parmesan cheese, some dollops of pesto, and a drizzle of olive oil. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Calories: 614kcalCarbohydrates: 65.8gProtein: 13.8gFat: 32gCholesterol: 46.7mgSodium: 399.6mgSugar: 4.9gVitamin C: 4.4mg
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