Pesto Pasta

Ingredients

• 2 cups fresh basil, washed and drained
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled
• Cherry tomatoes, halved, for garnish (optional)
• 14 oz pasta
• 1/2 cup La Favorita Oliva (Olive) Oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup walnuts
• 1/2 cup extra grated Parmesan for sprinkling (optional)

Directions

1. Cook the pasta according to the package directions in salted water. Drain it and reserve a little of the cooking water.
2. While the pasta cooks, make the pesto. In a food processor, combine the basil, Parmesan, walnuts, garlic, salt, and pepper.
3. Process the ingredients while slowly adding the La Favorita Olive Oil until the mixture is smooth. If needed, add a little of the pasta cooking water to adjust the consistency.
4. Toss the cooked pasta with the pesto sauce.
5. Serve the pesto pasta sprinkled with extra Parmesan and garnish with cherry tomatoes if you like.