Broccoli Walnut Pesto Pasta
This easy Broccoli Walnut Pesto Pasta will bring your simple pesto dish to another level of yumminess by adding a nice smoky and nutty punch from the toasted walnuts and make it super creamy and nutritious by incorporating fresh broccoli! It is a delicious veggie-loaded pasta that you can make in less than 15 minutes. You can whip up a scrumptious weeknight dinner in a jiffy, plus get your kids to eat vegetables without all the unnecessary whining- what is not to love?
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup Chopped walnuts + more for garnish
- 1/2 cup Packed fresh basil leaves + more for garnish
- 3 cloves Garlic, roughly chopped
- 1 1/2 cups Raw chopped brocoli
- 1/2 cup Chicken or vegetable stock
- 1/4 tsp Red Pepper flakes
- kosher salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp Fresh lemon juice
- 2 tbsp Olive oil, add more as needed
- 2 tbsp Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 10 ounces Favorite pasta
Instructions
- Preheat a skillet to medium heat. Add the walnuts and gently toss until toasted, about 5 minutes.
- In a food processor, pulse together walnuts and garlic cloves. Next, add in the chopped broccoli, basil, stock, red pepper flakes, 3⁄4 tsp kosher salt, 1⁄4 tsp ground pepper, and lemon juice. Pulse until mostly combined. Take the olive oil and while the food processor is running drizzle it down the feed tube, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Next, add in the 2 tbsp cheese and pulse until the pesto is smooth.
- Once the pesto is prepped, cook the pasta according to the package instructions. You will want to reserve 1⁄2 cup of pasta water just in case. Next, add the cooked pasta to a mixing bowl and toss with pesto. Add the pasta water as needed until the pesto has covered all the pasta.
- To serve, transfer pasta to a serving bowl. Garnish with remaining cheese, walnuts, and basil. Serve and enjoy!
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