Nut-Free Penne Pasta with Pesto
Elevate your pasta night with this vibrant Nut-Free Penne Pasta with Pesto recipe, perfect for those with nut allergies or anyone seeking a fresh twist on traditional pesto. Featuring fragrant basil, creamy Parmesan cheese, and a touch of spinach for added depth and nutrition, this nut-free pesto is blended to silky perfection with olive oil, garlic, zesty lemon juice, and a hint of heavy cream for richness. Tossed with tender penne pasta, this dish comes together in just 30 minutes, making it an ideal weeknight dinner. Whether you’re craving something wholesome or catering to dietary needs, this recipe delivers bold flavor without compromise. Garnish with extra Parmesan for a crowd-pleasing finish!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 12 ounces Penne pasta
- 2 cups Fresh basil leaves
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 units Garlic cloves
- 0.5 cup Olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Lemon juice
- 0.5 teaspoon Salt
- 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper
- 1 cup Spinach leaves
- 0.25 cup Heavy cream
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 10-12 minutes. Drain and set aside.
While the pasta is cooking, prepare the nut-free pesto sauce. In a food processor or blender, combine the fresh basil leaves, Parmesan cheese, garlic cloves, spinach leaves, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and black pepper.
Blend the ingredients until they form a smooth paste. You may need to scrape down the sides of the food processor a few times to ensure everything is well mixed.
Once blended, transfer the pesto sauce to a small saucepan. Stir in the heavy cream and warm the sauce over low heat, stirring occasionally. Do not allow it to boil.
Add the drained penne pasta to the saucepan and toss to coat the pasta evenly with the pesto sauce.
Serve the nut-free penne pasta with pesto immediately, garnishing with additional grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
2780 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 162.5 g | 208% | |
| Saturated Fat | 45.4 g | 227% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 10.6 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 140 mg | 47% | |
| Sodium | 2588 mg | 113% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 255.9 g | 93% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 14.7 g | 52% | |
| Total Sugars | 0.9 g | ||
| Protein | 77.2 g | 154% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 977 mg | 75% | |
| Iron | 15.2 mg | 84% | |
| Potassium | 1039 mg | 22% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
