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| Basil Walnut Pesto with Pasta |
| This wonderful and diverse pesto can be made easily in a food processor. Pesto freezes well and can be enjoyed with many meals, year round. Try adding a teaspoon to a cold gazpacho, or a warm bowl of minestrone. For a wonderful stuffing for filled pastas or lasagna, add 1 tablespoon to each cup of ricotta cheese. Thin the pesto with some a bit of olive oil to make a delicious topping to put on grilled meat, chicken or fish. And of course, thinned with a bit of pasta water, it's perfect when tossed into a bowl of pasta, as we've done here. |
Ingredients:
1 1/2 to 2 cups loosely packed basil leaves, washed and thoroughly dried
1/4 cup Italian parsley leaves, washed and dried
2 tablespoons walnut pieces, lightly toasted
1 tablespoon pine nuts (pignoli), lightly toasted
1 clove garlic, or more to taste
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried orange peel
Pinch freshly ground nutmeg
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, or 4 ounces, cut up
1/2 cup COLAVITA Extra Virgin Olive Oil, or more as needed
1 pound COLAVITA whole wheat pasta, cooked according to package directions
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Preparation:
Place the knife blade in the work bowl of a food processor. Add the walnuts, pine nuts, garlic, pepper, orange peel and nutmeg. Process with a few on/off pulses. With the machine running, add the cheese down the food chute; process until it looks like a fine meal. Shut off the machine; add the basil and parsley; process until you have a thick paste. With the machine running, slowly pour the olive oil down the chute; continue processing until the pesto is smooth. Makes about 1 1/2 cups.
Note: To serve with pasta, dilute the pesto with pasta water to the desired consistency; toss with pasta and serve.
Per Serving: 527 Calories (43% from fat); 26g Fat (6g Sat, 15g Mono, 3g Poly); 20g Protein; 58g Carbohydrate; 7g Dietary Fiber; 15mg Cholesterol; 360mg Sodium. Food Exchanges: 4 Grain (Starch); 1 Lean Meat; 4 1/2 Fat
Variation: Pesto Cream Sauce. Mix 4 tablespoons of the pesto with 1/2 cup heavy cream. Great over gnocchi or ravioli.
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