Pasta with Basil Chimichurri
Are you looking for a quick, vibrant, and utterly delicious pasta dish that’s bursting with fresh flavour and perfectly portioned just for you? Look no further than my Pasta with Chimichurri Pesto! This recipe takes simple pasta and elevates it with my unique, herbaceous, and subtly spicy chimichurri pesto, creating a meal that feels gourmet but is incredibly easy. It's the ultimate hassle-free, utterly scrumptious meal, designed entirely for cooking for one.
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Are you looking for a quick, vibrant, and utterly delicious pasta dish that’s bursting with fresh flavour and perfectly portioned just for you? Look no further than my Pasta with Chimichurri Pesto! This recipe takes simple pasta and elevates it with my unique, herbaceous, and subtly spicy chimichurri pesto, creating a meal that feels gourmet but is incredibly easy. It's the ultimate hassle-free, utterly scrumptious meal, designed entirely for cooking for one.
About This Dish
My Pasta with Chimichurri Pesto is a truly invigorating dish, showcasing the power of fresh herbs and bold flavours. It’s a beautifully balanced creation, combining perfectly cooked pasta with the vibrant, zesty punch of my homemade chimichurri pesto. This isn't your average green pesto; it's a dynamic blend that marries the herbaceous freshness of basil (like a traditional pesto) with the bright, garlicky, and slightly spicy kick of a classic Argentinian chimichurri.
This is my go-to recipe when I want something quick, incredibly flavourful, and packed with aromatic herbs. The pesto coats every strand of pasta, delivering a wonderful contrast of fresh, tangy, and subtly spicy notes. It's a simple yet elegant meal that feels like a treat, without any fuss. The incredible vibrancy and depth of flavour make this a true standout among pasta and pesto dishes.
Why You'll Want to Make My Recipe
My Pasta with Chimichurri Pesto is an absolute game-changer for anyone seeking a quick, satisfying, and utterly delicious meal designed specifically for a single serving. Whether you're a busy solo cook, a student looking for a substantial yet simple meal, an empty nester who's tired of cooking for a crowd, a single parent needing a fast and nourishing option, or simply someone who appreciates the efficiency of cooking for one, this recipe is crafted for you.
Single Serve
This recipe is inherently a single-serve sensation. Every ingredient is portioned to create one perfect bowl of pasta, eliminating waste and ensuring you have just the right amount for a satisfying meal without leftovers. It's truly a one portion marvel, designed for effortless enjoyment when you're cooking for one.
15-Minute Meal
From boiling the pasta to tossing it with the vibrant pesto, this dish genuinely comes together in approximately 15 minutes. If my chimichurri pesto is already made, it's even faster! This makes it an ideal choice for a speedy lunch or a fuss-free dinner for one. No long waits, just deliciousness in a flash.
One Pot
This is the true beauty of this recipe! My Pasta with Chimichurri Pesto is a genuine one pot meal. You'll use a single pot for cooking the pasta, and then simply toss everything together in that same pot after draining. This significantly minimises washing up, ensuring you spend less time scrubbing and more time enjoying. It’s the ultimate convenience for cooking for one, keeping your kitchen tidy while delivering maximum flavour.
Top Tips for Perfect Pasta with Chimichurri Pesto: Mastering the Art
Achieving perfectly coated pasta and a beautifully balanced dish is simple with these key tips.
- Al Dente Pasta is Key: Cook your pasta according to package directions until it's "al dente" – tender but still firm to the bite. This texture provides a satisfying chew and prevents the pasta from becoming mushy when tossed with the pesto.
- Reserve Pasta Water: Don't forget this crucial step! Before draining your cooked pasta, scoop out a ladleful of the starchy pasta water. A splash or two of this starchy liquid can be added to your pesto when tossing it with the pasta. It helps the pesto emulsify and cling beautifully to every strand, creating a silkier, more luscious sauce.
- Use Good Quality Chimichurri Pesto: My chimichurri pesto is the star here. Its fresh, vibrant, and slightly spicy notes are what truly make this dish shine.
- Toss Warm: Add the pesto to your warm, drained pasta. The residual heat from the pasta will gently warm the pesto, helping its flavours meld and its oils coat the pasta perfectly.
- Finish with Freshness: A final drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and an extra sprinkle of fresh herbs (like more chopped parsley or basil, if you have it) just before serving can enhance the aroma and visual appeal, truly elevating your chimichurri pasta.
Ingredients andTools
Having the right ingredients and a few basic tools makes whipping up my delicious single-serve meal a breeze.
Essential Ingredients:
- Pasta: Choose your favourite shape! Spaghetti, linguine, fusilli, or penne all work wonderfully, acting as a great canvas for the chimichurri pesto.
- Chimichurri Pesto: The star of the show! My special blend of basil, other herbs, garlic, chilli, and olive oil. This is the flavour powerhouse of your chimichurri pasta.
- Salt: For seasoning the pasta water.
- Black Pepper: For adding a subtle warmth and aromatic finish to the finished dish.
Essential Tools:
- Saucepan: A medium-sized saucepan is all you need for boiling your pasta and then tossing everything together.
- Colander: For draining the pasta.
- Spoon/Spatula: For stirring and serving.
Delicious Variations: Customising My Pasta with Chimichurri Pesto
My Pasta with Chimichurri Pesto is incredibly versatile! Feel free to adapt it to your taste or dietary needs.
- Making it Gluten-Free: Simply swap your regular pasta for your favourite gluten-free pasta variety. All other ingredients in my recipe are typically gluten-free, but always double-check labels, especially if your chimichurri pesto is store-bought.
- Making it Dairy-Free: My chimichurri pesto is naturally dairy-free (unlike some traditional pestos that contain cheese). So, this dish is inherently dairy-free!
- Making it Vegan: This recipe is naturally vegan! My chimichurri pesto contains no animal products.
- Adding Protein: For an extra protein boost, consider adding some cooked chicken (shredded or diced), flaked salmon, cannellini beans, or even some pan-fried tofu or tempeh. Stir these in with the pesto at the end.
- Adding Vegetables: Stir in a handful of baby spinach or rocket/arugula with the warm pasta and pesto – the heat will gently wilt them. Quickly sautéed cherry tomatoes, asparagus, or broccoli florets could also be lovely additions, tossed in just before serving for a delicious pasta and pesto variation.
- Spice Level: If you like more heat, you can add a pinch of red chilli flakes to the pasta when tossing with the pesto, or ensure your chimichurri pesto has an extra kick of fresh chilli.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is chimichurri pesto? How is it different from regular pesto?
A: My chimichurri pesto is a unique fusion. Traditional pesto is typically basil-based with pine nuts, Parmesan, garlic, and olive oil. Chimichurri, on the other hand, is a South American sauce made from finely chopped fresh parsley, garlic, oregano, red wine vinegar, olive oil, and sometimes chilli flakes. My chimichurri pesto combines these worlds: it's basil-forward like a pesto, but incorporates the vibrant mix of herbs (including parsley), garlic, acidity, and subtle spice characteristic of a chimichurri. It offers a brighter, tangier, and often more pungent flavour profile than a classic basil pesto.
Q: Can I use dried pasta for this recipe?
A: Yes, this recipe is designed for dried pasta! Any good quality dried pasta shape will work well. Just cook it according to package instructions until al dente.
Q: How much pesto should I use per serving?
A: My chimichurri pesto comes in the perfect single-serving sized pot! When using it for pasta, you want to use the whole jar for 100g pasta.
Q: What other dishes can I use chimichurri pesto on?
A: My chimichurri pesto is incredibly versatile! Beyond pasta, it's fantastic as a marinade or sauce for grilled meats (chicken, steak, fish), roasted vegetables, stirred into scrambled eggs, or as a vibrant spread for sandwiches and toast. Its bold flavour makes it a great condiment for almost anything that needs a fresh, zesty kick.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Boil pasta in well salted water until al dente.
- Drain but reserve a bit of pasta water.
- Stir through the full jar of chimichurri pesto and add a splash of pasta water.
- Serve and enjoy.
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Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly meal plans, for one! I select 5 one pot one portion recipes that use similar ingredients and include your shopping list plus recipe notes, ingredient swaps and tips and tricks for using up leftovers. Take a look at the first one here...
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Creamy Green Linguine
In a way, this linguine changed my life. It was the first recipe in the series to take off on social media, bringing new people and new opportunities into my life. It’s an exceptionally simple recipe that uses the same water to cook both the pasta and the vegetables, which you then use to create a velvety, carbonara-esque sauce with the cheese and egg. I’ve retested this and tweaked it since its original conception and, though I can’t promise it will change your life, I can promise it will be delicious.
Vegetable Pancake with a Chilli Crisp Egg
This vegetable pancake has its origin in Korea (where they’re known as yachaejeon) and is the perfect dish to use up odds and ends of any vegetables you have lying around. Cabbage, spring onions, carrots and courgettes work really well and provide a nice balance of moisture and crunch, but peppers, potatoes, mushrooms or leafy greens are good alternatives. Depending on the vegetables you use, you may need more or less water to make the light batter so adjust as necessary.
Prawn & Mango Salad
The perfect fresh, but still flavourful, summer salad! This is a beautiful fragrant salad with a creamy, zingy coconut milk dressing. With just a little bit of chopping and a minute of whisking, you’ve got a gorgeous summer lunch, perfect for working from home, taking lunch to the office or a sunny meal in the garden this weekend.
Some big praise!
Take a look at what some of my happy customers have to say about "One Pot, One Portion"!
"One Pot One Portion is, to borrow from The Parent Trap “a brilliant beyond brilliant idea”…I know many feel that it’s too much bother to cook ‘just’ for themselves — a sad admission, I feel — and to those people, and many others besides, I say: get this book and prove yourself liberatingly wrong!…Thank goodness for books! And thank goodness for Eleanor Wilkinson, a young talent to lift the spirits…There are so many people who could benefit from this book…this book is a boon and a blessing"
"A genius approach to bringing joy to every meal, Eleanor gets that good food is the best form of self-love."
I buy a lot of cook books and this is genuinely one of the best l've ever bought. I've tried 6 or 7 recipes so far and they're all winners. I'm well used to scaling recipes down to one portion, but not having to calculate measurements as l go along feels like a little luxury. One of the best things about the book is that all the recipes are actually cooked in one pot - in a lot of other so-called books you still have to make your side dish in a separate pot. With these recipes, even if they include rice or pasta, it's all cooked together. No mountains of washing up! Highly recommended.
I have been following Eleanor on IG for a while and have made several of her dishes before the cookbook came out. I was thrilled to see so many new things to try and have already made about 6 of them. Her recipes are approachable, the dishes are delicious, and they make me feel like I can cook! Highly recommend.
If you love eating good home cooked food but can't be bothered to cook just for yourself, then this is the book for you. Using ingredients that are easy to find, then mixing, cooking and eating from the same pan or dish means a minimum of washing up. Every recipe I have tried so far has been delicious and have all turned out well which isn't always the case with many cookery books. Definitely recommend!
Following Eleanor on Instagram and seeing her recipes come to life is one thing but then having them in my own kitchen is quite another. Not only are the recipes easy to follow and delicious she also help you not to waste food. This book is like having all your favourite foods in one place with the added bonus of an old friend showing you the ropes. Congratulations Eleanor when can I pre-order the next one?
Bought this for my sister who cooks for one. She absolutely loved it finding it inspiring! So many great recipes to motivate and keep you cooking when it's just you eating!
Follow Eleanor on socials and knew I NEEDED this book immediately! SO glad I paid extra and had it shipped from the UK (to US). Eleanor's voice is loud and clear in every recipe. The pictures are beautiful, the instructions are perfectly clear, and I want to make EVERYTHING. I cannot recommend this book enough!
This is perfect, as far as influencer chefs go, I find this book refreshing in what has become a cohort of lauded influencers who really aren't doing much more than the bog standard meals most people make anyway, or making googled recipes and adding their own "flair". This book is different as it's your normal fare you'd likely make yourself, given a little bit of a twist to speed up the process / use less utensils / ingredients / food waste, in really creative and tasty ways, all perfectly portioned for one.
Great present! Bought this for my sister who cooks for one. She absolutely loved it finding it inspiring! So many great recipes to motivate and keep you cooking when it's just you eating!
Great present! Bought this for my sister who cooks for one. She absolutely loved it finding it inspiring! So many great recipes to motivate and keep you cooking when it's just you
Follow Eleanor on socials and knew I NEEDED this book immediately! SO glad I paid extra and had it shipped from the UK (to US). Eleanor's voice is loud and clear in every recipe. The pictures are beautiful, the instructions are perfectly clear, and I want to make EVERYTHING. I cannot recommend this book enough!
This recipe book is stunning and fulfils its role brilliantly in catering for individuals who want to eat delicious meals, but don't want to prepare family sized portions or devote their entire evening to cooking. Who'd believe you could make an entire roast for one person and only use one pan in the process! She is a genius and I couldn't recommend this book any more highly.
One of the best things about the book is that all the recipes are actually cooked in one pot - in a lot of other so-called books you still have to make your side dish in a separate pot. With these recipes, even if they include rice or pasta, it's all cooked together. No mountains of washing up!
This is the book I've been waiting for! I (very happily!) live alone, love to cook and read cookery books, but every recipe is for two people or more. This gorgeous book contains recipes perfectly proportioned for one person (and I'm always a very hungry one person!) which ensures more variety, less food waste, and pure, gluttonous joy.
It's so nice to finally have a recipe book that I can go to if I want a quick easy meal with minimal cleaning up required! Everything l've tried so far is delicious. And I salivate at the thought of everything in there!
Totally reignited my cooking mojo which had been MIA for a while. I'm going to buy my daughter a copy to take back to Uni too as everything is simple and delicious - perfect for a student!
Best cookbook for somebody single!
The fact I know I won't have loads to wash up really feels motivating and l've earmarked so many of the recipes already.
This book is like having all your favourite foods in one place with the added bonus of an old friend showing you the ropes. Congratulations Eleanor when can I pre-order the next one?