Beet Greens Pesto Pasta Recipes

BEET-GREEN PESTO

Steps:

• Pistachios: Toast pistachios in a skillet over low heat until they're light brown in spots, with a toasty aroma, 2-3 minutes.
• Greens: Pull leaves from stems and wash thoroughly (they can be sandy). Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, and blanch the greens for 20 seconds (to preserve their color). Using a slotted spoon, transfer them to a bowl of ice water (to stop the cooking).
• Pesto: Purée the pistachios, garlic, and oil in a food processor until nuts are combined with the oil but still chunky (you don't want to make nut butter). Remove greens from the ice water and squeeze out excess water. Roughly chop them and add to the food processor with a pinch of salt. Pulse to combine, leaving the pesto slightly chunky. Taste for seasoning. Push down the sides of the bowl and pulse 5 more seconds.
• Assembly: Toss half of the pesto with the cooked penne, adding more as needed. Serve immediately.

BEET GREENS PESTO PASTA RECIPE

Steps:

• Wash, dry, and cut beet greens: Cut beet roots from the stem*. Cut the beet greens from the stem and place in a colander or bowl to wash, rinse well to remove dirt, then set aside to dry (about 20 minutes). Once dry, remove any remaining hard stems from leaves.
• Prepare beet top pesto: In a food processor or blender, add beet greens, pine nuts or seeds, garlic cloves, olive oil, cheese or nutritional yeast, sea salt, and black pepper. Pulse to combine, adding more oil if needed, but keep pesto a thicker consistency.
• Boil pasta: Bring a large pot of water and a generous pinch of salt to a boil. Add desired pasta and cook to al dente (or semi-firm) according to package instructions. Typically this means 8-10 minutes, depending on the pasta shape you choose (thicker pasta shapes require more time). When pasta is done, reserve ½ cup of pasta water and then drain pasta and set aside.
• Prepare pesto pasta: In a large pan over medium-low heat, add pesto to pan with a small amount of reserved pasta water and heat for 1 minute. Add cooked pasta and toss to coat it in pesto. Remove from heat and plate, then serve..

SPAGHETTI WITH BEET GREENS

Steps:

• 1. Bring a large pot of cold water to a boil over high heat and salt it generously. Add the spaghetti and boil, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 9 minutes. Drain, reserving about 1/2 cup of the cooking water.
• 2. Meanwhile, cut the beet green stems into 2-inch pieces. Cut the larger leaves into wide ribbons; leave the smaller ones whole. Swish the stems and then the leaves in a big bowl of cold water to clean (in batches if necessary); lift them from the bowl with your fingers, shake them off and blot with a paper towel-they don't have to be really dry.
• 3. Put the olive oil and garlic in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Cook the garlic until golden, stirring occasionally, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the garlic with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel. Increase the heat to medium; add the stems and season with salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until you can insert the tip of a knife into the stems without resistance, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, 30 seconds.
• 4. Turn the heat to medium-high, add the beet greens and cook, tossing occasionally, until the greens are coated with oil and just starting to wilt. Season with salt and cook until the leaves are wilted and tender, about 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low.
• 5. Pour the pasta on top of the greens and salt lightly. Toss with tongs and add the reserved pasta water. Divide among 4 pasta bowls and top with reserved garlic slices and desired cheese.

FETTUCCINE WITH ASPARAGUS, BEET GREEN PESTO, AND POACHED EGG

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium and toast walnuts, shaking pan often, until fragrant, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate or bowl and let cool; reserve skillet.
• Pulse cooled walnuts, beet greens, garlic, parsley, lemon zest, 2 tsp. lemon juice, 3/4 tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp. pepper in a food processor until finely chopped. With the motor running, slowly drizzle in 3/4 cup oil until a thick sauce forms. Add 2/3 cup Parmesan and pulse until well combined. You should have about 1 1/2 cups pesto.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a very low simmer. The water should register 180°F on an instant-read thermometer. Set a large bowl of ice water near your work station. Crack eggs into 4 ramekins or small bowls. Transfer 1 egg to a fine-mesh strainer set over a medium bowl to drain slightly (this will help remove extra egg whites and give the poached eggs a more compact shape). Carefully lower egg in strainer into hot water until egg is completely submerged. Gently shake strainer and carefully shape egg with a slotted spoon until edges of egg white start to turn opaque, 30-60 seconds. Carefully release egg from strainer into water with slotted spoon. Cook egg, turning and shaping occasionally with slotted spoon, until egg white is opaque and firm and yolk is plump and jiggles slightly to the touch, 3-3 1/2 minutes more. Transfer egg using a slotted spoon to the ice bath. As the first egg cooks, repeat steps to poach remaining 3 eggs, but keep an eye on which egg went in first. Use a timer to avoid overcooking.
• Bring the pot of water to a boil and cook fettuccine, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Using tongs or a spider, transfer pasta to a colander to drain. Reserve pasta cooking liquid in pot and set aside 1 cup liquid for the pasta sauce.
• Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in reserved skillet over medium-high. Add asparagus and sauté until warmed through, about 2 minutes. Add 1 cup pesto and 1/2 cup pasta cooking liquid; gently simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Add fettuccine and simmer, tossing occasionally, until well combined. If sauce is too loose, continue to simmer; if it's too thick, add more pasta cooking liquid to loosen and stir vigorously to combine. Season with 1/2 tsp. salt, remaining 1 tsp. lemon juice, and remaining 1/4 tsp. pepper.
• Meanwhile, return the pot of water to a very low simmer. Transfer eggs from ice bath to pot to reheat until warm, 30-60 seconds. Remove eggs using a slotted spoon and place on a plate rubbed with a little olive oil. Divide pasta among 4 plates and top with poached eggs and Parmesan.
• Do Ahead
• Pesto can be made and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.