brown butter and pesto pasta

A quick meal where you can use that freshly made pesto! I frequently eat this with some grilled chicken breast on top. 

Adapted from Half Baked Harvest

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup of fresh pesto (I like to mix in larger chunks of freshly chopped basil, too)
• 4 tablespoons butter
• freshly cracked black pepper
• crushed red pepper flakes to taste
• 1/4 cup of grated parmesan cheese (optional)

Instructions

In a heavy-bottomed sauce pan add the butter and melt over medium heat until just browned. Butter will melt, foam, and froth, and then begin to brown along the bottom. Whisk the browned bits off of the bottom of the pan and set aside. Mix the pesto, cracked pepper, and pepper flakes together with the butter. 

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Boil the pasta according to package directions. Drain and immediately toss the hot pasta with the pesto. Sprinkle a generous portion of cheese and eat!