Penne with Spinach Pesto, Simple & Quick recipe
This easy Penne pasta with Spinach Pesto sauce is quick, easy, and delicious. It's ready in under 15 minutes and its a simple delicious evening meal the whole family will love. Thinking of Easy and Stylish Dinner Recipe? You're sure to love this Penne with Spinach Pesto recipe.
Ingredients
- 200 gms penne pasta boiled till al dante
- ½ medium spinach bunch blanched
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 2 medium tomatoes
- 2-3 garlic cloves
- ¼ cup roasted peanuts
- 4 tbsps extra virgin olive oi
- Salt to taste
- 3 tsps mixed dried herbs
- ¼ cup milk
- 100 gms processed cheese grated (originally Parmesan is used, replace it with Parmesan if available)
- 2 tsps black pepper powder
Instructions
- Heat water in a pan until it starts boiling. Add Spinach leaves and take it out from the water in 30 secs (Blanching process). Run cool water over the spinach to stop the cooking process.
- In the same boiling water add Olive Oil, Salt and Penne Pasta. Boil pasta until al dente (For authentic "al dente" pasta, boil uncovered, stirring occasionally for 11 minutes).
- Roughly chop blanched spinach and put into a mixer jar, add garlic cloves and grind well. Add roasted peanuts and extra virgin olive oil and grind to make a smooth spinach pesto.
- Heat olive oil in a non-stick pan. Cut tomatoes into big cubes and add to the pan, toss well and cook till the tomatoes are soft. Switch off the heat, transfer the tomatoes into a plate and set aside to cool.
- Heat the same non-stick pan, add penne, spinach pesto and salt and mix well. Add mixed dried herbs, milk and mix well. Add grated cheese and mix well. Add black pepper powder and mix well. Add cooked tomatoes, reserving some, and mix well and cook for a minute
- Transfer onto a serving platter, garnish with reserved cooked tomatoes and drizzle leftover olive oil from the cooked tomatoes and serve immediately.