Pasta with Arugula Pesto - Italian Recipes

Italian Recipes: Pasta with Arugula Pesto

Ingredients

 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
 3 cloves garlic, minced
 2 cups coarsely chopped arugula, stems included
 1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh basil
 1/2 cup olive oil
 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
 salt to taste
 1 pinch cayenne pepper
 1 (16 ounce) package dry pasta

Directions

 Combine the walnuts, garlic, arugula, and cilantro or basil in a food processor or blender. Whirl them just until they are coarsely chopped. While the machine is running, add the olive oil in a thin stream. Transfer the pesto to a bowl. (At this point the pesto can be frozen. Thaw it before proceeding.)
 Stir the Parmesan cheese, salt, and cayenne into the pesto
 Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta, and cook it, stirring occasionally, until it is just tender. Drain the pasta, return it to the empty pot, and toss it with the pesto, adding a tablespoon or two of water if necessary to distribute the pesto evenly.
 Transfer the pasta to a serving bowl or to individual plates, garnish with additional Parmesan cheese and serve.

Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 377 | Total Fat: 19.6g | Cholesterol: 71mg