This Easy Spinach Pesto Pasta is a celebration of freshness and bursting with flavor!
Combining tender pasta with a luscious pesto sauce crafted from vibrant spinach, aromatic basil, rich Parmesan cheese, and crunchy toasted nuts, it’s an exquisite dish that transforms healthy eating into a gourmet experience in mere minutes.
Easy Pesto Pasta Hollywood Beat magazine Test Kitchen (photo credit Shibani Mishra)
Hollywood Beat magazine Test Kitchen
Easy Spinach Pesto
This Easy Spinach Pesto Pasta is fresh, colorful, and packed with flavor. It mixes pasta with a pesto sauce made from spinach, basil, Parmesan cheese, and toasted nuts. It’s a healthy meal that tastes gourmet in just a few minutes.
12 oz (340 g) pasta of your choice (penne, fusilli, or spaghetti)
1 cup fresh baby spinach leaves (packed)
½ cup fresh basil leaves
⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
⅓ cup olive oil
¼ cup walnuts or pine nuts (lightly toasted)
2 garlic cloves
Juice of ½ lemon
Salt & pepper to taste
Optional garnish: Extra Parmesan, cherry tomatoes, or fresh basil.
Directions
Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain remaining water from the pasta.
Make pesto: In a food processor, combine spinach, basil, Parmesan, nuts, garlic, and lemon juice. Pulse until blended.
Add olive oil slowly while blending until smooth. Season with salt & pepper.
Combine: Toss hot pasta with pesto, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time for a silky texture.
Serve: Top with extra Parmesan and fresh tomatoes if desired.
Tips & Substitutions:
TIP – make pesto while the pasta is cooking to save time.
🍽 Side Dish Suggestions
• Garlic bread or warm focaccia • Mixed greens salad with balsamic vinaigrette • Roasted vegetables (zucchini, bell peppers, or asparagus) • Caprese salad with mozzarella, basil, and tomatoes
🥡 Storage Tips
• Store leftover pasta in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. • Reheat gently with a splash of water or olive oil to prevent drying. • Pesto can be made ahead and frozen in ice cube trays for up to 3 months — thaw and stir into hot pasta.
📊 Nutritional Info (per serving, approx.) • Calories: 430 kcal • Protein: 12 g • Carbs: 45 g • Fat: 22 g • Fiber: 4 g • Sodium: 220 mg (Values may vary based on pasta type and toppings.)
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