Penne in Basil and Spinach Pesto

Any Italian meal is incomplete without pasta. Pasta has gain a lot of popularity over the years, kids especially love pastas. Pasta comes in variety of shapes and sizes! In today's recipe I have used Penne Pasta.

I prefer pastas with light sauce and veggies compared to pastas loaded with sauce and cheeses.

Pesto is a favorite condiment at our house, it is very much versatile and can be used on pizzas, pasta, sandwiches, on roasted or mashed potatoes, eggs and more!

Ingredients for Pasta

5 cup cooked penne pasta or your favorite pasta

1/3 cup chopped broccoli

1/3 cup chopped zucchini

10-12 grape or cherry tomatoes halved if too big

1 tsp extra virgin olive oil

3 tbs prepared basil pesto(recipe below) or store bought

Salt and Pepper for taste

Grated Parmesan cheese(optional)

Crushed red pepper(optional)

Method For Pasta

Boil Pasta according to package instruction. I had leftover cooked pasta in the refrigerator hence used that.

Add a teaspoon of olive oil in a pan on medium heat . Add broccoli and zucchini and saute it for some time, 2-3 min. Next throw in grape tomatoes and saute for a minute or so. Lower the gas to low.

Add cooked pasta, pesto and salt and pepper for taste. Pesto already has salt and parmesan cheese and so does pasta(when you cook pasta make sure you add salt in boiling water before adding dry pasta)so add salt accordingly.

Mix everything together and shut off the gas. Add more grated parmesan and crushed pepper if you wish for a kick and it's done.

Ingredients for Pesto

2 cup packed basil leaves

1 cup baby spinach leaves

1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/4 cup lightly toasted pecans

1 garlic clove

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

Zest from half a lemon+ Juice from it

Salt and Pepper as per taste.

Method For Making Pesto

Wash and pat dry basil leaves, I didn't wash spinach leaves because I used packaged triple washed spinach.

In a food processor pulse garlic clove couple of times and add toasted pecans and pulse again until crushed. Add basil, spinach, parmesan cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt and pepper and start on button, with food processor still running drizzle olive oil. Process until everything is nicely incorporated, don't make it into paste it should have a little bit grainy texture. Once done adjust seasoning and take it out into a bowl.

Notes-: This pasta come together in minutes if pesto is ready. If you have time on hand try making this pesto at home.

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