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PASTA WITH SPINACH & CHILLI PESTO + QUICK ROASTED TOMATOES

Servings: 2 people

Ingredients

  • 200 grams spaghetti (or other pasta of choice)
  • 2 tomatoes
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • A few basil leaves, to serve
  • Salt, to taste

Pesto:

  • 150 grams spinach, fresh of frozen
  • 100 grams Italian basil
  • ¼ cup cashews
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 2 green chillies, or to taste
  • 40 grams Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • Salt, to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 180 C. Chop the tomatoes into bite-sized pieces. Toss with 1 tsp olive oil and salt. Lay them out without overlaps on a baking tray and roast for 35-40 mins. Set aside.
  • Cook the pasta according to packet instructions. Reserve ½ cup of the cooking liquid, then drain and set aside.
  • Pesto: add the spinach to a pan and move it around until it just starts to wilt - about 3 mins (same treatment for frozen spinach). Squeeze out the excess moisture in a colander or with your hands.
  • Add the spinach to a blender jar along with green chillies, cashews, basil, garlic, Parmesan, and salt. Coarsely blitz, stopping to scrape down the sides a few times.
  • Once it’s a coarse paste, add lemon juice and olive oil and blitz again to get it to the consistency you like. If it appears too dry, add a touch of water to loosen. Taste and adjust seasoning/spice levels. Blend in a bit more chilli at this stage if you like.
  • Toss the pasta with the pesto, tomatoes, and a few basil leaves. If it feels too dry, add a bit of the reserved cooking liquid to loosen. Serve immediately.

Notes

Almonds also work in this recipe as a replacement for cashews.
The pesto can be kept refrigerated for up to a week: top the jar with a thin layer of olive oil and keep in the fridge.
The pesto can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Store in individual containers for ease. Thaw before using.