PASTA WITH ASPARAGUS PESTO

This makes a quick and easy dinner. Steam, boil, or roast the asparagus. Roasted gives great flavour!

Heat a large pot of salted water and cook your choice of pasta, such as fettucine or spirals, until al dente. Drain.

Meanwhile, cook 1 bunch of asparagus, trimmed and cut in half, in boiling salted water until just tender. If you prefer roasted asparagus then cook them in the oven with an olive oil coating & a sprinkle of sea salt.

Place asparagus in a food processor with ¼ cup roasted cashews, a big handful of shaved or grated Parmesan, ½ cup baby spinach leaves and 2 cloves chopped garlic.
Season and puree, drizzling in olive oil while the motor is still running.

Add the juice of ½ lemon. Stir the asparagus pesto through the pasta and serve with extra Parmesan.

You can also use parsley or rocket in place of spinach.

 

Recipe courtesy NZ Gardener Garden Diary