Best Pumpkin Seed Pasta Recipes

WHOLE-WHEAT PASTA WITH PUMPKIN-SEED AND SPINACH PESTO

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add pasta, and cook until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid.
• Meanwhile, combine toasted pumpkin seeds, parsley, chives, oil, garlic, 1 1/4 teaspoon salt, the lemon zest, and 1 cup baby spinach in a food processor. Season with pepper, and pulse until well combined.
• Toss pasta with pesto mixture. Add reserved cooking liquid, and mix until pasta is well coated. Fold in remaining 1 1/2 cups baby spinach. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Divide among 6 bowls. Top each with a dollop of ricotta, and season with pepper. Serve with tomato wedges if desired.

PUMPKIN SEED PESTO PASTA WITH CHICKEN

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Blanch the kale leaves in the boiling water for 15 seconds, and them transfer them to a sieve. (Leave the boiling water on the stove to use for the pasta.) Using a spatula, press the kale leaves firmly into the sieve to release as much water as possible. Transfer the kale leaves to a blender.
• Add the toasted pumpkin seeds, Parmesan, garlic, salt and pepper to the blender and pulse briefly to combine the ingredients. With the blender running, stream in the olive oil and continue blending, scraping down the sides of the blender as needed, until the mixture is a smooth puree. Set the pesto aside.
• Heat a large saute pan over medium heat. Rinse and thoroughly dry the chicken breasts. Sprinkle them liberally with salt and pepper.
• Add the butter to the heated pan. Place the chicken breasts in the pan and allow them to cook until they naturally release from the pan. Flip the chicken breasts once and continue cooking until they reach 165 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer and are no longer pink.
• While the chicken cooks, add the linguine to the pot of boiling salted water and cook until al dente, 9 to 11 minutes.
• Drain the pasta and transfer it to a large bowl. Add the pesto to the bowl, tossing to combine. Slice the seared chicken breast and serve it alongside the pasta.

PUMPKIN SEED PASTA

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Spread pumpkin seeds in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Sprinkle the seeds with cayenne pepper.
• Roast in the preheated oven until lightly browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Watch them carefully so that they do not burn. Set aside.
• Place the tomatoes in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Scatter the green onion and garlic over the tomatoes. Drizzle the vegetables with olive oil to coat.
• Roast in the preheated oven 45 minutes. Remove from oven and cool slightly; remove the skins from the tomatoes.
• Meanwhile, fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the gemelli, and return to a boil. Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, about 10 minutes. Drain well in a colander set in the sink.
• Stir the goat cheese into the hot pasta until melted. Then, stir in the roasted peeled tomatoes. Place the pumpkin seeds on top of pasta to serve.