Spaghetti With Pepita Pesto And Cactus Recipes

SPAGHETTI WITH ZUCCHINI, PARSLEY PESTO AND BOTTARGA

Steps:

• Make the pesto: Put parsley in a food processor or blender. Add garlic, a good pinch of salt, black pepper to taste, and olive oil. Whirl to make a smooth sauce. You should have about 1 cup of pesto.
• Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil over high heat. Cook spaghetti according to package directions until al dente, erring on the slightly underdone side.
• While the pasta cooks, put about 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté the zucchini for about 2 minutes. Let it brown a little. Add salt, pepper, red-pepper flakes and lemon zest.
• Add drained pasta to skillet along with half the pesto. Toss everything together. Taste, and add more salt or pesto as needed. (Wrap and refrigerate any remaining pesto for up to 2 days or freeze for future use.)
• Divide pasta among individual plates and sprinkle generously with bottarga. Top with bread crumbs, and serve with lemon wedges.

SPAGHETTI PESTO

Steps:

• Start a pot of well salted water to a boil. Boil the pasta until it is just al dente (start tasting a few minutes before the package recommends: you want it to be tender but still a little firm on the inside; usually around 7 to 8 minutes). Just before draining, reserve 1 cup pasta water! Then drain the pasta.
• Place the pasta in a bowl (not the pasta pot). Stir together the pasta, pesto, and 1/2 cup pasta water, tossing with tongs until the pesto is well distributed and the pasta water forms a creamy sauce. Add more pasta water if desired. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt and taste. If the flavor doesn't pop, add a few more pinches until it does (the salt content in purchased pesto brands varies, as well as the amount of salt you used in the pasta water). Serve immediately.
• Store any leftovers refrigerated: note that pesto can get gummy when reheated, so it's best to eat leftovers cold or room temp.

SPAGHETTI WITH PECAN-HERB PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Scatter the pecans on a rimmed sheet pan and toast until they are fragrant and a shade or two darker, 7 to 8 minutes. Cool.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package directions until al dente. Drain, reserving about 1/2 cup pasta water.
• Meanwhile, put the pecans in a food processor with the lemon zest, basil, parsley and garlic and pulse six or seven times to make a chunky paste. Scrape down the sides of the work bowl and, with the processor running, add the olive oil in a steady stream to make an almost-smooth pesto.
• Scrape the pesto into a large serving bowl and stir in the cheese. Season with salt. Add the spaghetti and toss, adding the reserved pasta water to loosen, if needed.

PESTO SPAGHETTI

Steps:

• For pesto, combine the oil, parsley and seasonings in a blender; cover and process until blended. Cook spaghetti according to package directions; drain. , Transfer to a serving bowl. Add the walnuts, cheese and pesto; toss to coat.

SPAGHETTI WITH SICILIAN PESTO

Steps:

• Roast pepper over a gas flame, turning, until blackened, about 8 minutes. (Or blacken under broiler.) Transfer to a bowl; cover with plastic wrap. Let stand 10 minutes. Remove skin, stem, ribs, and seeds. Tear into 2-inch pieces. Puree in a blender with tomatoes, anchovies, capers, raisins, almonds, cheese, and oil; season with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large pot of generously salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water; drain pasta and return to pot.
• Add pepper mixture, then reserved pasta water, a little at a time, until sauce evenly coats pasta. Serve, topped with cheese, almonds, and parsley, and drizzled with oil.

PARSLEY PEPITA PESTO

Steps:

• Toast seeds in a heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until golden in spots and puffed, about 4 minutes.
• Mince and mash garlic to a paste with 1/2 teaspoon salt, then transfer to a food processor. Add parsley and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and pulse until chopped. Add cheese and seeds and process until seeds are finely chopped. With motor running, add oil in a slow stream through feed tube.

PEPITA PESTO

Steps:

• Combine parsley, pepitas, basil, lemon juice, water, and garlic salt in the bowl of a food processor; pulse until blended into a coarse meal. Pour olive oil in slowly and pulse a few times until pesto has come together.

SPAGHETTI WITH MINT & PARSLEY PESTO

Steps:

• Blend the ingredients, except the pasta, together in a blender or food processor.
• In a large pot, cook the spaghetti until al dente, drain and toss with the pesto.

CILANTRO-PEPITA PESTO

Steps:

• Place the first five ingredients in a food processor; cover and pulse just until chopped. Add the lime and lemon juices and salt; cover and process until blended. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.