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5 Minute Walnut and Ricotta Pesto

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5 Minute Walnut and Ricotta Pesto

Recipe by Julian Bickmann
5.0 from 1 vote

This is one of my all-time favourites and my definition of comfort food: this dish has been in my heavy rotation for nearly a decade – I make it on a weekly basis. You can whip it together in just 10 minutes on a busy weekday (the headline refers to the pesto rather than the pasta cooking time), or serve it as a well-rounded primo piatto with a few extra garnishes (fried pancetta or guanciale for a non-vegetarian option, roasted pine nuts or chopped walnuts and tomatoes for added freshness and a more varied texture).

Course: Pasta e viciniCuisine: ItalianDifficulty: Easy
Servings
+
-

4

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

5

minutes
Total time

10

minutes

Ingredients

  • 100 g 100 Parmesan cheese

  • 120 g 120 walnuts

  • 100 g 100 ricotta

  • 1 clove 1 of garlic

  • 30–50 30–50 ml olive oil

  • 20 g 20 basil leaves

  • A handful of cherry tomatoes

  • Salt and pepper to taste

  • 400 g 400 pasta

Directions

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Reserve some of the pasta cooking water.
  • Option A – Using a mortar (recommended for flavour and texture): Grate Parmesan cheese. Finely chop or grate the garlic. Crush the ingredients, starting with the nuts, basil leaves and garlic, adding a small amount of olive oil. Add the tomatoes and continue crushing. Add Parmesan. Once the mixture forms a paste, add the ricotta, the remaining olive oil, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Option B – Using a mixer: Add all ingredients except the olive oil to the mixer and blend on medium speed. Once the ingredients form a paste, add the olive oil (no more mixing!).
  • Toss the pasta with the pesto, adding some of the reserved pasta water to achieve a creamy consistency.
  • Optional: sprinkle with extra garnishes, such as roasted pine nuts, chopped walnuts and tomatoes, or fried pancetta or guanciale (non-vegetarian).

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Mortar and pestle or food processor
  • Grater

Notes

  • Optional: sprinkle with extra garnishes, such as roasted pine nuts, chopped walnuts and tomatoes, or fried pancetta or guanciale (non-vegetarian).
  • Using a mortar is recommended for the best flavour and texture.

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The law firm WAGNER Arbitration has its offices in Berlin and specializes in dispute resolution with a focus on arbitration. In addition, the firm offers comprehensive counseling services related to domestic and international business disputes and transactions.