Healthy Hint: This dish provides a heavy dose of thiamine, essential in converting glucose into energy.

Angel Hair Pasta with Basil and Walnut Pesto

This delicate pasta is full of green: the peppery arugula adds a surprising dimension to the flavour, and the spinach boosts the nutritional value of the meal.

Preparation Time: 15 mins
Cooking Time: 10 mins
Serves: 4

Ingredients

2 cups fresh basil leaves
2 cups trimmed fresh spinach
1 cup trimmed arugula
1⁄3 cup walnut pieces
4 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
3 garlic cloves, peeled
1 tablespoon olive oil
370 g angel hair pasta or spaghettini
fresh basil sprigs to garnish
1⁄2 lemon to serve

Directions

Place the basil, spinach and arugula in a colander. Wash the leaves well under cold running water. Shake to dry. Transfer the leaves to a food processor.
Add the walnuts, Parmesan cheese and garlic and process until finely chopped. With the machine still running, slowly drizzle the oil through the feed tube, processing until the pesto is thick.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to the package directions; drain. Toss the pasta with the pesto in a large serving bowl until evenly coated.
Garnish with the basil sprigs, squeeze the lemon juice over the pasta and serve.

Nutrients per serving: 400 calories, 13 g protein, 14 g total fat, 2 g saturated fat, 5 mg cholesterol, 54 g total carbohydrate, 1 g sugars, 6 g fibre, 90 mg sodium.

For more delicious pasta recipes try Linguini with Tomato Sauce or Spaghetti with Puttanesca Sauce.

From: Cook Smart for a Healthy Heart, Reader's Digest Canada