Penne with Arugula and Walnut Pesto

Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray

Show: 30 Minute MealsEpisode: Knock 'Em Out in 30

Rated: 3 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (5)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(5)

Cook Time:
12 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
4 to 6 servings

Times:

Prep: 15 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 12 min
Total:: 27 min

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Ingredients

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, eyeball it
2 cloves cracked garlic
12 ounces arugula, stems removed
1/2 cup walnut pieces or 2/3 cup walnut halves, toasted
1/4 teaspoon ground or grated nutmeg
Salt and pepper
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
1 pound penne rigate (with lines) pasta
1/3 pound fresh green beans, cut into thirds

Directions

In a small saucepan over medium heat cook garlic in oil 5 minutes, then remove pan from stove top. Fill the food processor with arugula, loosely packed. Add walnuts and 1/2 of the warm oil and both cloves of garlic to the arugula in the processor. Add nutmeg, salt and pepper to the processor bowl, set lid in place and pulse grind the mixture into a thick paste. Add any remaining arugula to the processor and grind into the paste by pulsing the processor again. Transfer arugula paste to a large pasta bowl. Stir in the remaining oil and the cheese. Taste pesto sauce and adjust seasonings.

While cooking penne to package directions for al dente, watch the time. After about 6 minutes, add green beans to the pasta pot. The beans will cook along with pasta the last 2 or 3 minutes. Drain pasta and beans together in a colander then transfer hot pasta and beans to the pasta bowl with the pesto in the bottom. Toss pasta and beans with pesto for 2 to 3 minutes to combine and evenly coat the pasta and beans with the pesto sauce. Serve immediately.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Penne with Arugula and Walnut Pesto
Anonymous 03-04-2007
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a tad bitter
Rated: 1 stars out of 5

i'v made this twice now (one without the food processor [didn't have one] and once with the fp) and i didn't really... like it either time. i just think that i'm not that big of a fan of Arugala. i found it bitter and not as good as the "parsely feta pesto" that Rachel also has.Read more
recipe Penne with Arugula and Walnut Pesto
Anonymous 02-22-2007
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good
Rated: 3 stars out of 5

Good - but I didn't have a food processor at the time so I'm sure it could have been much better.
recipe Penne with Arugula and Walnut Pesto
Erin Fort Worth, TX 01-28-2006
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Penne with Argula
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

By far, my favorite pesto! Excellent taste and great the next day, too!
recipe Penne with Arugula and Walnut Pesto
JENNIFER Pittsburgh, PA 10-16-2005
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Turned out properly, but strong arugula taste not for everyone
Rated: 2 stars out of 5

Very easy and turned out perfectly. Though we've enjoyed arugula in sandwiches and in salads, we found the taste of this... pesto to be unpleasantly strong. If you're a true arugula-lover, you may feel differently, though.Read more
recipe Penne with Arugula and Walnut Pesto
Anonymous 02-01-2005
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much better than storebought
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This is a standard pesto recipe similar to any other pesto. It's still very easy and much better than storebought.