Spaghetti with spinach walnut pesto

Written by: 7aumsuvai

Pesto is normally prepared with basil leaves and pine nuts. But I was looking for simple ingredients that are available in our kitchen pantry to prepare pesto. Finally I end up with spinach and walnuts. I loved the flavor of walnut with spinach.

Spaghetti with spinach walnut pesto

Ingredients:

      • 1/2 packet (240 grams) – White spaghetti / Whole wheat spaghetti
      • 1 tsp – Olive oil
      • Salt as needed
      • 1 tsp – Butter (optional)

For spinach walnut pesto:

      • 2 cups - Fresh baby spinach leaves
      • 1/4 cup -  Walnuts (toasted)
      • 2 cloves – Garlic (chopped)
      • 2 to 3 tbsp – Olive oil
      • 1/4 cup - Parmesan cheese (optional, I didn’t use it )
      • Freshly ground black pepper as needed
      • Salt as needed

Spaghetti with spinach walnut pesto process

Preparation method:

  1. In a large pot, add water and bring it to boil, then add salt, spaghetti and a tsp of olive oil. Cook the spaghetti until tender. Once it’s cooked, drain and melt the butter throughout.
  2. Meanwhile, heat a pan, toast the walnuts over medium flame. Set aside.In the same pan, add a drop of oil and roast garlic until there are slightly golden brown in color. Set aside.
  3. Again in the same pan, drizzle few drops of oil and saute spinach for few seconds. Set aside.
  4. Take a mixer grinder or food processor, add in toasted walnuts and garlic, blend it quickly. Then add the spinach and olive oil. Blend some more, stopping and scraping down the sides of the mixie jar, if necessary. Finally add parmesan cheese(if you decided to use), black pepper and required salt to it. Now pesto is ready.
  5. Combine the pesto and the spaghetti well and serve immediately, with more pepper and parmesan cheese.

Spaghetti with spinach walnut pesto

Notes:

  • Usually spinach walnut pesto is prepared with raw spinach and garlic. Since I didn’t like to have it as a raw, I sauteed both spinach and garlic for few seconds. I wondered how it is going to taste but fortunately the flavor was very good.
  • You can cook spaghetti as per the instruction given on the packet.
  • I didn’t use any cheese in this recipe but the taste was awesome even without cheese.
  • After cooking spaghetti, just drain the water completely and add a tsp of butter to it, give a quick toss so that the spaghetti is well coated with the melted butter. That helps avoiding stickiness from spaghetti.Otherwise wash spaghetti in cold running water thoroughly.

Spaghetti with spinach walnut pesto

14 comments:

  1. Amazing clicks. I can have the whole bowl :)

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  2. yummy pasta..Kids will love it for sure

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  3. Delectable spaghetti, my kids will just gobble it up. Very lovely Shanthi...

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  4. thats such a healthy remake..!!! super super like !!! And hey..do drop by my "pick quicks" blog (non-foodie one) if u are in for some hearty laugh. Hope u will be a follower there as well.

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  5. Wat a best way to sneak spinach na, incredible dish.

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  6. very healthy recipe shanthi.. like ur presentation too

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  7. My all time favorite. nicely presented

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  8. love the flavor of pesto ..spaghetti looks delicious

    http://preetyskitchen.blogspot.com/

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  9. I agree Shanthi that we dont need to add Cheese to any sort of Pesto.. I am a fan just as it is..

    I have switched to a different gmail id for my Blog and hence lost all contacts too :( . I am following all my fav pages again now so following you too :)

    Please could you also visit my page once and make sure you still are following me..Thanks you so much :)

    Hugs
    Nupur @ UK Rasoi

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  10. looks delicious..healthy pasta dish

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  11. Looks great with a nice coating of pesto. I like spaghetti with pesto rather than in tomato sauce.

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  12. Wow looks soo yum, and loved the pleasant green color and clicks :)

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