Quick and easy creamy pesto pasta that can be made in your Instant Pot or on the stovetop. Great for a busy weeknight family meal that is both healthy and delicious.
¼cupbasil pesto(you could also use sun-dried tomato pesto)
1teaspoonlemon zestoptional
A pinch of pepper
To finish:
10cherry tomatoeshalved
A few basil leaveschopped (optional)
Instructions
Instant Pot
Add the pasta, water, salt and olive oil and stir through. Set to Manual/Pressure Cook on HIGH. You can set it to 2 minutes cooking time with 10-12 minutes Natural Release OR 5 minutes cooking time with Quick Release.Using the 2-minute method will continue to cook the pasta during natural pressure release and helps to reduce the amount of foam that might spritz out when you release the remaining pressure manually (quick release).
Stovetop
Bring 1.5 litres of water to a boil, add the pasta, salt and olive oil and stir through. Cook as per packet instructions or to al dente texture.
Reserve ⅓ cup of cooking water liquid, whether you use the Instant Pot or Stovetop method and strain the pasta.
Combine cooked pasta, ⅓ cup cooking liquid, cream cheese, pesto, lemon zest and pepper in the pot and stir until nice and creamy. Taste for salt. You can also drizzle a little lemon juice on top.