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Pasta au Basilic

A pasta bowl with penne pasta fresh basil and shaved parmesean

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Pasta with basil is a classic summer dish in the south of France. When you have fresh basil plants or basil growing in your yard, it's the perfect quick and easy dinner idea — it's also fresh and easy for entertaining and picnics.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta bow tie, penne, or pasta of your choice (100 grams per person for a main dish and 25- 50 grams for primi piatti)

2 -3 cups of fresh basil

About a 1/2 cup to one cup of fresh parmesan

Extra virgin olive oil

Sea salt

Instructions

Cook the pasta al dente, about 1 1/2 - 2 minutes less cooking time than the package directions. Drain and rinse the pasta. 

Chop fresh basil or use a mini food processor to mince it. When I make this dish, I never measure the basil or cheese. The quantities are guidelines; add more or less basil or cheese to your liking. 

Toss the pasta with the basil, olive oil, freshly grated Parmesan, and sea salt. 

Penne Pasta with Fresh Basil and Shaved Parmesean

A bowl of pasta with basil being served to the kids

Notes & Variations:

Use a vegetable peeler to add a few shavings of Parmesan for a lovely presentation.  

This dish is also good without olive oil — toss some pasta with a lot of basil, some Parmesan, and sea salt. 

You can skip the Parmesan too, or add cherry tomatoes.

Serving cold or room temp is perfect for picnics or parties. 

A simple summer menu idea is Caesar salad, pasta au basilique, and fruit salad. 

Caesar Salad

A bowl of fruit salad easy weeknight side dish

Fruit Salad

You may also like these equally easy pasta salad ideas — they're also great for kids' parties. 

Italian Sausage, Tomato, and Basil Parmesan pasta salad easy family dinner

Sausage tomato and basil pasta.

Pasta salad with fresh basil and cherry tomatoes

Tomato and basil pasta salad.

Ham, Pea, Mint, and Parmesan pasta salad healthy family dinner

Pasta salad with ham, peas, and mint. 

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