Speedy Spinach Pesto Pasta

5 from 1 vote

Speedy Spinach Pesto Pasta is a 15 minute pantry special with spinach and walnut pesto tossed simply with a little gluten-free pasta, fresh garden tomatoes and topped with crumbled bacon.

Cook Time15

Total Time15

Course: Mains, Sides

Cuisine: Italian

Diet: Gluten Free

Servings:

Calories: 332kcal

Author: HWC Magazine

Ingredients

6 slices bacon cooked until crispy, drained and crumbled (hold if going vegan)
14 oz spaghetti
(I used gluten free corn and Quinoa mix)
1 cup walnuts
(if you toast them first...so good but not required)
2 cloves garlic
peeled
1.5 cups spinach (unthawed frozen spinach and all the water squeezed out)
¼ cup olive oil
(or can use a little water to thin if trying to reduce fat)
salt and pepper
to taste
½ cup parmesan cheese
(leave out if going dairy free or vegan) reserve a little extra if you want to garnish with a little extra on the finished dish
1 tomatoes
chopped fresh (optional- garnish)
dried red pepper flakes optional - as desired

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Fry bacon until crispy, drain and and crumble. Set Aside. If going vegan you can skip this step and go straight to step 2.
Bring pasta to boil in a large pot with lots of salted water and cook per pasta directions or until aldente.
In the meantime, place walnuts in food processor and grind until fine. Add the garlic, spinach, olive oil, salt, pepper and parmesan cheese (if not dairy-free or vegan), salt and pepper to taste and process until smooth.
Drain pasta (but reserve about 1 cup of pasta water). Add the spinach pesto to the pan with a little bit about ¼ cup- ⅓ cup of pasta water to thin the pesto and make it creamy. Toss well.
Serve onto 4 plates, top with a little fresh chopped tomatoes, crumbled bacon and a parmesan cheese if not vegan or dairy free. I like a little dried red pepper flakes on top of mine for a little kick.
Enjoy pasta with a side salad and a nice glass of red wine.

Notes

To make vegan, hold the bacon. Substitute nutritional yeast for Parmesan cheese.

Leftovers can be stored in a covered container for up 3 days in the refrigerator or up to 2 months in the freezer. Reheat on the stovetop on in the microwave. Add a couple of teaspoons of water to loosen up the spinach pesto as needed.

Nutrition