Pesto Sauce Green Pasta

Me and my son love pasta whether it is made in a white, red or green sauce. But from all types, I think the most healthy one is basil pesto pasta as it is loaded with several healthy ingredients such as basils, nuts, olive oil, and fresh vegetables.

Prep time: 20 min

Cook time: 20 min

Serves: 2

Ingredients:

1/2 cup sliced Green bell pepper

1/2 cup sliced Yellow bell pepper

1/2 cup sliced red bell pepper

1/2 cup sliced onion

1/4 cup zucchini

100 gm Italian basil

15 cloves garlic

2 dry red chilis (I crushed it to make chili flakes and the amount can be changed as per your taste)

1/2 slice lemon

Italian spice mix(Thyme and Oregano) as per your taste

7-8 crush black peppers(amount can be changed as per your taste)

4 piece walnuts

4 piece almonds

1/3 cup olive oil

Parmesan cheese(as per your taste) 

Preparation method:

Pasta 

Take a container, add 3/4 water, salt to taste and 1 small teaspoon of oil to it.

Bring water to boiling and add spaghetti pasta to it. (You can use any type of pasta as per your choice)

   

Usually, pasta cooks in 7-10 mins, but you have to check in between for al-dente texture.

Once it is done, drain it, wash with cold water to stop additional cooking and toss it with olive oil so that it doesn’t stick with each other. (If your sauce and veggies are cooked and pasta can be added, then cold water wash is not required.)

Also, while draining, save a little bit of pasta water for final preparation.

Pesto sauce 

While Pasta is boiling, start preparation for pesto sauce. Take a grinder bowl, add walnuts, almonds, 12 cloves of garlic to it and grind it. 

Then add basil, pepper powder, Italian spice mix, parmesan cheese, salt, lemon, olive oil and grind it. If required, add 2-3 teaspoon of pasta water to make a smooth paste.

   

Final Mix

Put 3 teaspoons of olive oil in a pan, add chili flakes and 4 cloves of chopped garlic to it. Stir for few mins. (Make sure that garlic doesn’t get brown).

Then add onions, stir it till it gets translucent. Next, add all three bell peppers, a pinch of salt, stir it well and cover the pan for 3 mins to let it cook.

Add zucchini and pesto sauce and let it cook for 3 min. Vegetables should be half done and not completely cook.

Once veggies are cooked, add boiled pasta to the above mixture, mix it well and serve it hot.