Name: Spinach Parmesan Pesto Pasta recipe by Antara Navin at BetterButter
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 17 min
Total time: 27 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 1.5 cups penne pasta; 8 ounces baby spinach leaves; 3/4 cup roasted almonds; 2 garlic cloves, smashed, peeled and finely chopped or grated; 1/2 cups finely grated Parmesan cheese; 2 tbsp lemon juice; 4 jalapenos( adjust as per your taste, I like a bit spicy); salt as per taste; 1/2 tsp cayenne (adjust as per taste); 1/2 cup olive oil

ABOUT Spinach Parmesan Pesto Pasta RECIPE

This pesto recipe uses fresh baby spinach leaves, blended together with roasted almonds, parmesan cheese, garlic, jalapenos, lemon juice and olive oil. The pesto is then cooked at low heat with cooked pasta water to form a thick creamy sauce. Finally the al dente pasta is added in the pesto parmesan sauce , simmered for two minutes and then served hot in a bowl. This spinach parmesan pesto sauce pasta can be served with parmesan crusted chicken or mushrooms.

Ingredients Serving: 4

1.5 cups penne pasta
8 ounces baby spinach leaves
3/4 cup roasted almonds
2 garlic cloves, smashed, peeled and finely chopped or grated
1/2 cups finely grated Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp lemon juice
4 jalapenos( adjust as per your taste, I like a bit spicy)
salt as per taste
1/2 tsp cayenne (adjust as per taste)
1/2 cup olive oil

Instructions

Add the pasta into a pot of boiling salted water. Cook for 10-11 minutes or until the pasta is cooked aldente. Take out the pasta through a skimmer and plunge it into cold water for few seconds. Retain 1 cup of cooked pasta water. Drain the pasta and keep it aside.
Wash and clean the spinach leaves with water. Coarsely grind the lemon juice, half of spinach leaves, roasted almonds, jalapenos and garlic in a mixer or food processor for 2-3 minutes, with little water. Add the parmesan cheese and pulse the mixer again. Scrape the sides in between, add olive oil through the feed tube and grind the mixture into a smooth, creamy paste.
Heat a pan and add 1 cup cooked pasta water into it. Add the pesto, cayenne, salt as required and cook the mixture at low heat till it begins to thicken. Once the mixture reaches a thick sauce like consistency, add the cooked pasta. Stir, mix and simmer on low heat for 2-3 minutes. Turn off the heat.
Serve the creamy cheese pasta hot in a bowl. You can serve it with sauteed mushrooms or parmesan crusted chicken.

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