For me, basil and tomatoes are synonymous with summer. When the basil is long gone from the garden, but the days still warm, I still crave something relatively summery which  will transport me back to days at the beach, long afternoons and days doing absolutely nothing. If there was to be an ambassador for summer pasta dishes, pesto pasta would be a frontrunner!

Pesto just means something that is pounded, so many iterations can be found all over Italy. Here is a more autumnal offering, which I’ve kept bright and punchy, but swapped out the basil for more accessible rocket, mint and parsley and hazelnuts instead of pine nuts. The result is  a vibrant nutty pesto which happily replaces the classic pesto alla genovese (which is best with the small and sweet summer basil leaves). Use any pasta you like, but pesto is rather lovely with linguine or trenette which are narrow, long and flat.

Linguine with rocket and hazelnut pesto. Photo – Eve Wilson.

Olive oil and hazelnuts give the pesto an earthy, autumnal depth. Photo – Photo – Eve Wilson.

Pesto just means something that is pounded, so many iterations can be found all over Italy. Photo – Eve Wilson.

Using rocket instead of basil for the pesto makes it a more autumnal offering. Photo – Eve Wilson.

Fresh herbs such as mint and parsley give this dish a fragrant hit. Photo – Eve Wilson.

Salt and garlic pack a seasoning punch. Photo – Eve Wilson.

Herby and delicious! Photo – Eve Wilson.

Julia in her bright new kitchen. Photo – Eve Wilson.

Everything you need for an easy and delicious weeknight dinner. Photo – Eve Wilson.

The gorgeous Julia Busuttil Nishimura. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files.

Pesto pasta, Julia-style! Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files.

Click here for a downloadable, print-able recipe!