Pasta With Kale and Walnut Pesto

 

This unusual but oh-so-delicious pesto sauce—made by combining walnuts, kale, pecorino, and garlic in the food processor—can be stored in the fridge for five days or in the freezer for three months. When you need a meal in a pinch, just toss the sauce with cooked pasta. 

 

Hands-On Time

20 Mins

Total Time

30 Mins

Yield

Serves 4

By Charlyne Mattox

May 2012

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons walnuts
• 1 bunch kale, thick stems discarded and leaves torn (about 12 cups)
• 1 cup grated pecorino (2 ounces), plus more for serving
• 1 small clove garlic
• kosher salt and black pepper
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 3/4 pound fusilli, penne, or some other short pasta

Directions:

Step 1

Heat oven to 350° F. Spread the walnuts on a rimmed baking sheet and toast, tossing occasionally, until fragrant, 6 to 8 minutes; let cool. Chop 2 tablespoons of the walnuts and set aside.

Step 2

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the kale and cook until bright green, 30 seconds. Transfer the kale to a colander (reserve the cooking water); squeeze dry when cool enough to handle.

Step 3

In a food processor, combine the kale, pecorino, garlic, the remaining ⅓ cup of unchopped walnuts, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Process until finely chopped. With the machine running, add the oil through the feed tube in a steady stream.

Step 4

Bring the reserved cooking water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package directions. Reserve ½ cup of the cooking water; drain the pasta and return it to the pot. Add the pesto and ¼ cup of the reserved cooking water and toss to coat (add more cooking water if the pasta seems dry). Serve the pasta sprinkled with the pecorino and chopped walnuts.

Source:  realsimple.com