Make Spaghetti with Basil Pesto | American Masters: At Home with Jacques Pépin | PBS

Video Description

Official website: http://www.pbs.org/americanmasters | #AmericanMastersPBS In the summer, Pépin likes to use fresh basil from his garden to make this pesto recipe. The basil puree can also be made ahead and frozen to enjoy in the colder months. Ingredients: 8 ounces spaghetti 4 to 5 cups basil leaves Salt ½ cup extra virgin olive oil ½ jalapeño, minced 1/3 cup nuts or pumpkin seed, pine nuts, hazelnuts, walnuts 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese ½ cup pasta water Additional extra virgin olive oil, for garnish Additional Parmesan cheese, for garnish Method: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package instructions. Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the cooking water. As the pasta cooks, put the basil leaves into a wire strainer and blanch them by dunking the strainer into the boiling pasta water until they wilt, about 30 seconds. Immediately immerse the hot basil in an ice bath to refresh. Drain and press dry. In the jar of a blender, combine the basil, olive oil, salt, ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water, jalapeño, pumpkin seed or nuts and Parmesan and blend until smooth. Scrape the pesto into a large glass bowl. Using half a cup of the reserved pasta water, rinse out the jar and add to the bowl; taste and adjust the seasoning, if the mixture is too thick, add a little more of the pasta water. Add the spaghetti and toss well. Garnish with additional extra virgin oil and cheese. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving. Subscribe to the American Masters channel for more clips: http://bit.ly/1JmUCu5 Enjoy full episodes of your favorite American Masters films: http://www.pbs.org/americanmasters FOLLOW AMERICAN MASTERS: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/americanmasters Twitter: https://twitter.com/PBSAmerMasters #AmericanMastersPBS Instagram: https://instagram.com/pbsamericanmasters #AmericanMastersPBS TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pbsamericanmasters FOLLOW PBS: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pbs/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/PBS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/PBS Shop: http://www.shop.pbs.org/ ___________________________________ Now in its 36th season on PBS, American Masters was recently nominated for an IDA Award, two Primetime Emmy® Awards and was awarded two News & Documentary Emmys. The series illuminates the lives and creative journeys of our nation’s most enduring artistic giants—those who have left an indelible impression on our cultural landscape—through compelling, unvarnished stories. Setting the standard for documentary film profiles, the series has earned widespread critical acclaim and 28 Emmy Awards—including 10 for Outstanding Non-Fiction Series and five for Outstanding Non-Fiction Special—14 Peabodys, three Grammys, two Producers Guild Awards, an Oscar, and many other honors. To further explore the lives and works of more than 250 masters past and present, the American Masters website offers full episodes, film outtakes, filmmaker interviews, the podcast American Masters: Creative Spark, educational resources, digital original series and more. The series is a production of The WNET Group.