A cup or so of the linguine cooking water is the secret to a properly made pasta with pesto.
Recipe information
Yield
Makes 4 to 6 servings
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Step 2
On a baking sheet toast pecans in one layer in middle of oven until fragrant and one shade darker, about 7 minutes. Cool pecans and in a blender purée with parsley, Parmesan, lemon juice, and oil. Parsley-pecan pesto may be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.
Step 3
In a 6-quart kettle bring 5 quarts salted water to a boil for linguine. Cook pasta in boiling water until al dente and ladle out and reserve 1 1/2 cups pasta cooking water. Drain pasta in a colander and in kettle toss with pesto, 1 cup reserved pasta cooking water, and salt and pepper to taste, adding as much of remaining ‚ cup pasta cooking water as necessary for desired consistency.
