Perilla Pesto Pasta Recipe
Perilla pesto is a unique twist on the traditional Italian pesto by using the perilla herb instead of basil. If you’re not familiar with perilla, it’s an aromatic herb that’s prevalent in Korean dishes. You’ll commonly find them in soups and stews, used as a wrap for Korean BBQ, or in kimbap. In terms of flavor, it’s a blend of mint, basil, anise, and cinnamon, making it bold and punchy in the most delightful ways.
Ingredients
- 6 oz long fusilli pasta or your choice of pasta
- 1/2 cup pasta water
- 1/4 cup perilla pesto (see note)
- 1 tsp salt
- burrata for garnish
- fresh perilla leaves thinly sliced for garnish
Instructions
- In a pot with boiling water, add 1 teaspoon of salt. Once dissolved, add the pasta of your choice and cook according to the package instructions.
- Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water then strain the pasta.
- Transfer the drained pasta into a mixing bowl and add 1/4 cup of pasta water to start. You can add more later if needed. Add 1/4 cup perilla pesto and mix well. If the pasta is too dry, add a bit more pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Transfer the pasta to a serving plate. Garnish with burrata and fresh perilla leaves.
Notes
- Check out my Perilla Pesto recipe!