Delish

AllRecipes.com is one fantastic site.

Today, I made a Basil Cream Sauce that was so easy, and so darn good. Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups fresh basil leaves
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 ounces pine nuts
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 pint light cream

Directions:

1. In a food processor, combine basil and garlic. Begin processing, and pour in olive oil in a thin stream. Process for about 40 seconds, or until mixture begins to emulsify. Add pine nuts and Parmesan, then blend for 1 minute.
2. Heat cream in a saucepan over low heat until simmering. Pour 1/2 of the hot cream into the processor with basil pesto, and pulse for 20 seconds to incorporate. Pour mixture back into cream, and simmer for 5 minutes, or until thickened. Pour over pasta. Serves 6.

I meant to take an attractive picture, but my growling stomach overrulled my aesthetic sensibilities. I barely followed these instructions, because I didn’t have half of what it asked for. I used dried crushed basil instead of fresh, and half and half instead of light cream. I didn’t use pine nuts or Parmesan cheese. But it still turned out excellent, so I assume the “correct” version is borderline gourmet.

~ by Jeremy Goodwyne on 10 April 2009.