Best Penne Rigate With Arugula Almond Pesto Recipes

Penne with Sugar Snap Peas and Arugula Pesto image

Yield Serves 4 to 6

Number Of Ingredients 10

1/2 pound sugar snap peas, trimmed
1 pound penne rigate (ridged, quill-shaped macaroni) or other tubular pasta
3/4 to 1 cup arugula pesto
For the pesto:
2 bunches of arugula, coarse stems discarded and the leaves washed well and spun dry (about 6 packed cups)
1 1/2 cups walnuts
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan or Sardo
1 teaspoon salt
l large clove
1/3 cup olive oil

Steps:

To prepare the penne:
In a large saucepan of salted boiling water blanch the sugar snap peas for 45 seconds, or until they are crisp-tender, transfer them with a skimmer to a large serving bowl, and toss them with 1/2 cup of the pesto. In the boiling water cook the pasta until it is al dente, reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta-cooking water, and drain the pasta in a colander. In the bowl with the sugar snap peas toss the pasta with the reserved pasta-cooking water, 1/4 cup of the remaining pesto, or to taste, and salt and pepper to taste.
To make the pesto:
In a food processor combine the arugula, the walnuts, the Parmesan or Sardo, the salt, and the garlic and pulse the motor until the walnuts are chopped fine. With the motor running add the oil in a stream and blend the pesto with hot cooked pasta, potatoes, or vegetables. The pesto keeps, chilled, its surface covered with plastic wrap, for 2 weeks. Makes about 2 cups.

Penne with Arugula and Walnut Pesto image

Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network

Categories main-dish

Time 27m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, eyeball it
2 cloves cracked garlic
12 ounces arugula, stems removed
1/2 cup walnut pieces or 2/3 cup walnut halves, toasted
1/4 teaspoon ground or grated nutmeg
Salt and pepper
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
1 pound penne rigate (with lines) pasta
1/3 pound fresh green beans, cut into thirds

Steps:

In a small saucepan over medium heat cook garlic in oil 5 minutes, then remove pan from stove top. Fill the food processor with arugula, loosely packed. Add walnuts and 1/2 of the warm oil and both cloves of garlic to the arugula in the processor. Add nutmeg, salt and pepper to the processor bowl, set lid in place and pulse grind the mixture into a thick paste. Add any remaining arugula to the processor and grind into the paste by pulsing the processor again. Transfer arugula paste to a large pasta bowl. Stir in the remaining oil and the cheese. Taste pesto sauce and adjust seasonings.
While cooking penne to package directions for al dente, watch the time. After about 6 minutes, add green beans to the pasta pot. The beans will cook along with pasta the last 2 or 3 minutes. Drain pasta and beans together in a colander then transfer hot pasta and beans to the pasta bowl with the pesto in the bottom. Toss pasta and beans with pesto for 2 to 3 minutes to combine and evenly coat the pasta and beans with the pesto sauce. Serve immediately.