Whole Wheat Fusilli With Kale And Walnut Pesto Pasta Recipes

ALEX'S SIMPLE WHOLE WHEAT PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Place the pepper directly over a gas flame to char and cook, turning, about 3 minutes per side. Place the pepper in a bowl and let sit, uncovered, until cool enough to handle.
• Place the pepper on a cutting board. Remove the seeds and core and open the pepper up so it lies flat on the cutting board, charred skin-side up. Use a kitchen towel to wipe the charred skin away. Sprinkle the pepper with the sugar, then chop the pepper into 1/4-inch dice. Place the diced peppers back in the bowl and drizzle with the vinegar. Set aside.
• Bring 4 quarts water to a rolling boil in a large pot. Add a generous amount of salt. (It should taste like seawater.) Cook the pasta, stirring from time to time, until "al dente" (chewy but not hard or raw tasting), 8 to 10 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the pasta water.
• Transfer the pasta to a large bowl and toss with the pesto. If the pesto is too thick, add some pasta water to thin it out. Place half of the pasta in a serving bowl, then top with half of the Parmesan and half of the roasted peppers. Top with the remaining pasta, Parmesan and roasted peppers. Garnish with fresh basil and serve.
• Pulse the basil with the garlic, sugar and salt in a food processor. Slowly stream in 1/2 cup olive oil and 1/4 cup water through the top of the machine, pulsing until almost completely smooth. Taste for seasoning. Add more oil if too chunky or dry. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the Parmesan.

BROCCOLI-WALNUT PESTO WITH PASTA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the nuts out on a small baking pan and toast lightly, about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Pulse together 1/4 cup of the walnuts and the garlic in a food processor; add the broccoli, basil, broth, nutmeg, red pepper flakes if using, 3/4 teaspoon salt and the lemon juice, and pulse until just combined. Slowly drizzle in the oil through the feed tube with the processor running and puree until a slightly chunky sauce forms, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add 2 tablespoons of the cheese and pulse until incorporated.
• Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted water according to the package directions. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid.
• Toss the pasta with the pesto in the dry pot or a mixing bowl, along with some of the reserved cooking liquid. Add the remaining cooking liquid if needed and additional salt to taste.
• Transfer the pasta to individual bowls and sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon cheese. Chop the remaining walnuts and scatter on top. Garnish with basil leaves and serve.

WHOLE WHEAT FUSILLI WITH KALE AND WALNUT PESTO PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt generously. Add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain, reserving about 1 cup pasta water.
• Roughly chop some of the walnuts and set aside. Pulse the remaining walnuts and garlic together in a food processor, then add the arugula, kale, basil, cheese, lemon juice, sea salt and pepper and pulse to puree. With the motor running, slowly add the oil and process until smooth. The pesto can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
• Add the pesto to a large bowl. Add the hot pasta and toss to coat, adding a splash of pasta water to thin, if necessary. Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with more cheese, a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of chopped walnuts.