Spicy Kale Almond Pesto And White Bean Pasta Food

KALE PESTO AND WHITE BEAN DIP

Steps:

• Put the pine nuts in to a small skillet and place over medium heat. Cook, stirring often, until the nuts are toasted and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool completely. Reserve 1 teaspoon of the nuts for garnish and place the rest in a food processor. Add the kale, basil and garlic to the food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Add the olive oil, lemon juice, nutritional yeast and salt and blend until well combined. Add the cannellini beans and blend until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Transfer the dip to a small serving bowl and garnish with the basil sprig and toasted pine nuts. Serve with baguette and vegetables.

CREAMY PESTO & KALE PASTA

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pan over a medium heat. Fry the onions for 10 mins until softened and beginning to caramelise. Add the kale and 100ml water, then cover and cook for 5 mins more, or until the kale has wilted.
• Cook the pasta following pack instructions. Drain, reserving a little of the cooking water. Toss the pasta with the onion mixture, cream cheese and pesto, adding a splash of the reserved cooking water to loosen, if needed. Season.

ONE POT CREAMY KALE, WHITE BEAN AND PESTO PASTA

Steps:

• In a large, heavy bottomed pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add in the shallots and sauté for 2 minutes or until softened. Add in the garlic, red pepper flakes, lemon zest, salt and pepper and sauté another 30 seconds.
• Add in the kale, pasta, water and season with salt and pepper. Stir, then bring to a boil. Cook for approximately 10 minutes or until the pasta is al dente. Stir frequently. Most of the water should be absorbed at this point.
• Stir in the beans, coconut milk or cream, Parmesan cheese and pesto. Continue to cook until the pasta is creamy and warmed through, taste for seasoning. Finish the pasta by squeezing in the juice of a lemon and adding in the dill. Stir to combine and then serve topped with extra pesto, Parmesan cheese and dill if desired.

KALE ALMOND PESTO

Steps:

• 1. Place kale in food processor and pulse until chopped.
• 2. Add almonds and garlic, pulse again to incorporate.
• 3. Pulse in salt, lemon juice, oil and pepper flakes.
• 4. Continue pulsing until pesto reaches desired consistency (I like mine fairly smooth).
• 5. Serve over Sesame Crackers.

PESTO PASTA WITH WHITE BEANS AND HALLOUMI

Steps:

• Prepare the pasta: Add the oil to a large, lidded sauté pan, and then place it over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the garlic and chile, and cook for 2 minutes, stirring often, until the garlic is nicely golden. Stir in the thyme, beans, pasta, stock, 2 teaspoons salt and plenty of pepper, and bring to a simmer. Turn the heat to medium, cover, and cook for 12 minutes. Remove from the heat and let sit, with the lid off, for about 5 to 10 minutes. This will help it absorb more of the liquid.
• As the pasta cooks, make the pesto: To a food processor, add the nuts, garlic, arugula (rocket), parsley, half the oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a good grind of pepper. Pulse a few times, scraping down the sides and pulsing again until you have a coarse paste. Transfer to a small bowl and stir in the remaining olive oil, adding a touch extra if needed to loosen the pesto.
• When ready to serve, stir the lemon juice and half the pesto into the pasta (discard the chile, if you wish) and transfer to a large serving bowl or platter with a lip. Sprinkle over about half the halloumi, and serve with the extra halloumi and pesto to eat alongside.