Spinach and Pesto Fusilli

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photo credit: food box via flickr creative commons
  • 1 lb Fusilli pasta
  • 8 oz Baby spinach
  • ¾ cup Pine nuts
  • 2 Medium garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
  • 1/3 cup Grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon Finely grated lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon Freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ cup Extra virgin olive oil

Pesto

  1. Place half of the spinach and all of the pine nuts and garlic in a food processor fitted with a blade attachment. Pulse, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed, until coarsely chopped, about 10 (1-second) pulses. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the remaining spinach and pulse until coarsely chopped, about 20 (1-second) pulses, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
  2. Add the measured Parmesan, lemon zest and juice, measured salt, and measured pepper and process until combined, about 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
  3. With the motor running, slowly pour in the oil and process until a smooth paste forms, about 30 seconds; set the pesto aside in the food processor.

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Pasta

  1. Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook according to the package directions or until al dente.
  2. When the pasta is ready, reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking water, then drain the pasta and return it to the pot. Place the pot over low heat, add the pesto and 1/4 cup of the reserved cooking water, and stir to combine.
  3. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is well coated, adding more pasta water as needed to reach the desired consistency.
  4. Taste, season with additional salt and pepper as needed, and serve with Parmesan on the side.

Servings: 6

Nutrition Information

Serving size: 1 serving
Percent daily values based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition information calculated from recipe ingredients.
Amount Per Serving
Calories 429.79
Calories From Fat (30%) 128.26
Calories From Protein (12%) 52.56
Calories From Carbs (58%) 248.97
Calories From Alcohol (0%) 0.00
% Daily Value
Total Fat 14.58g 22%
Saturated Fat 2.14g 11%
Monounsaturated Fat 8.88g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.07g
Trans Fatty Acids 0.00g
Cholesterol 1.10mg 0%
Sodium 414.87mg 17%
Potassium 397.56mg 11%
Carbohydrates 61.37g 20%
Dietary Fiber 3.11g 12%
Sugar 0.33g
Sugar Alcohols 0.00g
Net Carbohydrates 58.26g
Protein 13.43g 27%
Vitamin A 3554.75IU 71%
Vitamin C 12.62mg 21%
Calcium 98.24mg 10%
Iron 4.44mg 25%
Vitamin E 2.32IU 23%
Thiamin 0.85mg 57%
Riboflavin 0.41mg 24%
Niacin 6.12mg 31%
Vitamin B6 0.17mg 8%
Folate 90.78µg 23%
Vitamin B12 0.06µg 1%
Pantothenic Acid 0.04mg 0%
Phosphorus 60.14mg 6%
Magnesium 40.98mg 10%
Zinc 1.44mg 10%
Copper 0.09mg 5%
Manganese 0.51mg 26%
Selenium 2.91µg 4%
Alcohol 0.00g
Caffeine 0.00mg
Water 38.40g

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