Easy Pistachio Pesto Pasta

Hello all!

We’re starting to get in the rhythm of the new year, and we’re off to a running start! I want to talk about the art of the “quick family dinner”.

I think all of us parents out there know that when a delicious dinner comes together easily and everybody’s around the table, it’s a pretty great feeling. It can be tough to accomplish when every family member has their own things going on in a day, but never underestimate the power of making time to sit down together for a meal.

Dinner time is family time, and eating at the table is a nice time to reconnect with everybody after a long day. Not only does it encourage us to eat slower (which is good for digestion, and reduces overeating) but it’s the perfect way to have a daily check-in, chat, and have that quality time that’s so important.

Some of us might have heard of the “Mediterranean diet” before - I think the describing word “diet” is a little bit misleading, and might make us think that the Mediterranean diet is solely focused on what foods we’re eating. And while it does refer to some specific foods of the region, one of the unique aspects of Mediterranean eating is the more social aspects of a meal.

Eating in a more Mediterranean style with an emphasis on spending time with friends and family has actually been evidenced to encourage healthy social interaction and reduce stress. We are actually taking the time to enjoy a meal! This style of eating helps us feel more in touch with our direct community, and we feel closer to our families and friends.

In our family, we have made it a habit to hold hands and say what we are grateful for that day. This is the perfect time to be present, create connection and joy. I am so proud to say that when we forget, my 3-year old will say, “we forgot to say what we are grateful for” and reach out to hold our hands. It’s so special!

This wonderful sit-down family time is when I like to pull this recipe out - a rich Pistachio Butter Pesto Pasta. It’s comforting and filling, while also being completely plant-based. That’s the best of both worlds, right? It’s a twist to This Savory Vegan’s pistachio pasta recipe, which can quickly become a simple weeknight staple.

Why Pistachio Butter Works in Pesto

Pistachio butter is a shortcut to a creamy, restaurant-style pesto without grinding whole nuts by hand. Traditional pesto gets its body from pine nuts or almonds blended with oil — swapping in a spoonful of roasted pistachio butter does the same job with less prep and a rounder, nuttier flavor. Because Nuttinosh Roasted Pistachio Butter is already smooth, it blends into cilantro, garlic, lime, and oil without leaving gritty bits behind, which is the texture problem most homemade pesto runs into. It also adds healthy fats and a bit of natural sweetness that balances the acidity from the lime juice and the heat from the jalapeño, so the sauce doesn't taste one-note. For a weeknight dinner, that means fewer ingredients, less blending time, and a sauce that clings to pasta instead of separating.

How to Balance a Creamy Pistachio Pesto

The best pistachio pesto balances four things: fat, acid, salt, and herb brightness. Pistachio butter and olive oil supply the fat and give the sauce its creamy consistency; lime juice (or a splash of vinegar) cuts through that richness so the pesto doesn't feel heavy; salt sharpens the herb flavor from the cilantro or basil; and reserved pasta water — starchy and warm — is what actually pulls everything together into a glossy sauce that coats each noodle. If your pesto tastes flat, it usually needs more acid or salt, not more oil. If it's too thick to toss easily, that's what the pasta water is for: add it a splash at a time, off the heat, until the sauce loosens to a pourable consistency.

Best Pasta Shapes for Pistachio Pesto

Pistachio pesto is a clingy, creamy sauce, so shapes with ridges or curves hold it best — penne, fusilli, or casarecce all work well, and any short pasta you already have on hand is a fine substitute. Long noodles like linguine or fettuccine also pair nicely if you prefer a more traditional pesto-pasta pairing, since the sauce coats the strands evenly when tossed while still warm. Whichever shape you use, save a cup of pasta water before draining — it's the easiest way to adjust the sauce's consistency once everything is combined in the pot.

Savory Ways to Use Pistachio Butter

Pesto is one of the easiest entry points into savory pistachio butter cooking, but it's far from the only one. The same smooth, roasted flavor that makes this pasta work also holds up in salad dressings and vinaigrettes, as a glaze for roasted vegetables, or whisked into a marinade for extra richness. Because pistachio butter is naturally nutty rather than sweet on its own, it behaves more like tahini or cashew butter in savory cooking than like a dessert spread — a useful swap any time a recipe calls for a creamy, nut-based base. If pasta night becomes a regular thing in your house, this is a good ingredient to keep stocked for quick weeknight sauces beyond pesto too.

Best Pistachio Butter for Pesto

A smooth, roasted pistachio butter blends more evenly into pesto than a chunky or raw variety, since pesto is meant to be silky rather than textured. Nuttinosh Roasted Pistachio Butter is made specifically to be smooth enough to whisk straight into sauces and dressings without extra processing, which is why it works as a near 1:1 stand-in for pine nuts or cashews in most pesto recipes. Look for a pistachio butter with minimal added ingredients so the roasted, nutty flavor comes through rather than being masked by sweeteners.

This recipe has a lot of great elements to it - nutty pistachio butter, creamy pesto, and a little bit of saltiness from our cheese.

Let's Break It Down! Here's What You Need For Your Pasta:

Your favorite pasta.

Of course, we need pasta for a pasta recipe. I used penne in this recipe, but you can mix it up with any pasta you choose or what you’ve got at home!

Basil or Cilantro Pesto.

In this recipe, pesto is our main saucy element. You can make your own (check out the recipe below!) or purchase from the store.

Nuttinosh Roasted Pistachio Butter.

We use our classic Nuttinosh Roasted Pistachio Butter in this recipe. Our pistachio flavors really kick it up a notch with a great nuttiness and richness.

Parmesan Cheese.

Our addition of Parmesan to our pasta is a totally delicious (but totally optional!) step. Naturally, you can swap for a dairy-free topping option of your choice.

This recipe is quick and easy to make, healthy, rich, and perfect for family dinner. Give it a try this week, and let me know what you think!

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Rich Pistachio Butter Pesto Pasta by Anosha Singh

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 20 mins

Total Time: 30 mins

Recipe makes approximately 6 servings of pasta.

Ingredients:

• ¾ lb pasta (I used penne, but you can use your favorite!)
• 1 tsp olive oil
• ½ cup cilantro pesto (see the recipe below to make your own)
• ½ cup Nuttinosh Roasted Pistachio Butter
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• salt, to taste

Ingredients for Pesto:

• ½ cup cilantro (you  can substitute basil)
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled
• 1 lime, juiced
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 jalapeno, chopped (optional)
• salt and pepper, to taste
• water, as needed to thin

Directions:

1. Add cilantro, garlic, lime juice, olive oil, jalapeno, salt, pepper, and water to a food processor and pulse to combine. You can taste to adjust consistency and flavor as you like. Set aside.
2. Bring a stock pot of water to a boil. Add your pasta of choice and cook until al dente (depending on your pasta, cook time will vary).
3. Save 1 cup of pasta water before draining (you might need it later!) Set your pasta and saved pasta water aside.
4. In a small bowl, combine your pesto with Nuttinosh pistachio butter. Stir until evenly combined.
5. Back on the stove, place your empty stock pot over low heat. Add the pasta and pesto into the stock pot and toss to combine.
6. Add back pasta water as needed to adjust the consistency.
7. Dress up the pasta with parmesan cheese, and serve.
8. Enjoy!

This recipe has been adapted from Pistachio Pesto Pasta from This Savory Vegan, check out the link to see their recipe!