I really need to share this ridiculously quick pasta dish
with you because it may well be one of my favourite ever and I've only just
discovered it. It’s a take on something
I saw Nigella Lawson making on TV but with a few vegetable-shaped
additions and some tweaks to the sauce.
I've had my eye on this Pasta with Walnut sauce for a
while now but just didn't get round to it. Now I know how easy it is
though I fully expect it to be on our supper menu as a regular feature.
Silky Walnut and Kale Pasta
Serves 4
The first step is entirely optional, it won’t add much extra
prep time but does require a bit of a stint in the oven. It is completely worth
it though for the sweet hit that contrasts the savoury notes of the nuts and
garlic perfectly.
Simply peel and small dice 2-3 fresh beetroots (I
used golden ones but the ruby red versions will do nicely). Toss with a teaspoon
of olive oil and some salt and pepper before putting
into the oven at gas mark 6 for 30 minutes. Give them a shake half way through
and they should get a wonderfully crisp exterior.
Bring a pan of water to the boil and add a 1kg bag
of dried pasta, simmer for the amount of time it suggests on the packet.
Soak a slice of bread (brown or granary ideally) in 180ml
milk for a couple of minutes then pop into a blender with 150g
toasted walnuts, a clove of garlic, 25 g parmesan-style cheese (Sainsbury’s
Hard Italian Cheese is a good veggie option) and a good sprinkling of salt
and pepper. Blend into a thick paste then add in a good glug
(about 4 tablespoons) of olive oil and whizz again.
For the last 5 minutes that the pasta is boiling, add in 300g
roughly chopped kale (stalks removed).
Reserve a ladle of the cooking water and drain the
kale-pasta mix. Pop back in the pan with the sauce, beetroot if you made it, a
handful of roughly chopped fresh parsley and the reserved cooking water. Mix
thoroughly, the sauce and the water will form a wonderfully silky emulsion that
should just coat the pasta nicely.
Serve with a few crushed toasted walnuts for
a little added crunch.
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