The ingredients — simple and accessible
The beauty of this recipe lies in the simplicity of the components. No need to run to specialty shops or invest in expensive raw materials, you probably already have most of these at home.
For the pasta: one 500-gram package. You can choose penne, fettuccine or tortellini, any type you like will work perfectly.
For the sauce: a container of sweet cooking cream (250 ml) at 15% or 38% fat, 2–3 heaped tablespoons of ready-made pesto sauce, a vacuum-packed bag of chestnuts (100 grams) roughly chopped, 20 grams of butter or a tablespoon of olive oil, two crushed garlic cloves, and salt, coarsely ground black pepper and a pinch of nutmeg for seasoning.
For serving: generously grated Parmesan, that's what gives the final, perfect touch.
The method — simple and fast
Start by cooking the pasta in a pot of boiling salted water, according to the manufacturer's instructions on the package. It's important to save a quarter cup of the cooking water before draining, that starchy liquid will help bind the sauce to the pasta later.
While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a wide pan over medium heat. Add the crushed garlic and chopped chestnuts and fry for about a minute until a pleasant, tempting aroma rises. Be careful not to burn the garlic, it should only brown lightly and release its fragrance.
Pour the sweet cream and pesto into the pan and mix well. Season with salt, coarsely ground black pepper and a little nutmeg, which adds depth to the flavour. Bring the mixture just to the boil, lower the heat and cook for 2–3 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly and takes on a creamy texture.
Transfer the drained pasta directly into the pan with the sauce and mix well for about a minute. If the sauce looks too thick, this is the time to add a little of the cooking water you saved, it will help create a silky, perfect texture that coats every piece of pasta.
Serving and recommendations
Transfer the pasta to serving plates and scatter generously grated Parmesan over the top. The cheese will melt slightly from the heat and create another layer of richness and flavour.
For those who want to make the meal more complete, it's recommended to serve alongside a fresh green leaf salad with cherry tomatoes and balsamic. The combination of the light salad with the rich pasta creates perfect balance.
This dish is suitable both for a family lunch and for a romantic evening. It's impressive enough to serve to guests, but simple enough to make midweek when there's no time. And most importantly, it tastes incredible.
