This pesto and pine nuts white sauce recipe is real comfort food. Pasta is one of those romantic foods that makes you feel that everything is alright with the world. There’s a version of pasta for any occasion. It’s great for a light lunch, a side course for a multi-course dinner or, naturally, the main event.
I’m usually a red sauce guy, but my family likes the white sauce alternative once in a while. Holly and I came up with this Pesto and Pine Nut White Sauce not long ago. We hope you enjoy it!
It’s very easy. You can adjust it to your taste. Be creative and toss in some vegetables such as steamed broccoli or cauliflower. If you want you can even reduce the milk a bit and put in a dash of white wine.
“Food is the most primitive form of comfort.” —Sheila Graham
You can get the pesto in small jars at almost any grocery store. It’s a sauce from Northern Italy made from olive oil, garlic, basil and parmesan cheese. It often has pine nuts of it’s own, but we add more. There’s also a red version made from sun-dried tomatoes, we prefer the green to flavor a white sauce.
4 Tbsp. butter
4 Tbsp. flour
1/2 tsp. salt (or more to taste)
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 c. milk
1-2 Tbsp. pesto (to taste)
1/4 tsp. oregano
3 Tbsp. roasted pine nuts
1 c. shredded soft white cheese
Holly says you can’t rush a good white sauce. Blend it together slowly and stick with it to keep it smooth.
Basic white sauce: in saucepan melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour, salt and dash pepper. Add milk a little at a time stirring constantly to keep sauce smooth. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. If you like it thinner, add a little more milk. Cook and stir 2 minutes more.
Add pesto, pine nuts and oregano. Add cheese stirring constantly until melted and sauce is smooth. Add anything else you’d like such as cooked veggies, shrimp or mushrooms.
Serve over hot cooked pasta. Linguine or even spinach linguine is nice. Open a bottle of chilled white wine. Light a candle. Enjoy.
Yours along TheRomanticWay!
Rod & Holly
