So I am completely inspired by Ella Woodward and her whole approach to healthy eating. Health isn't about calorie counting and starving yourself, it's about making smart choices about what you eat and nourishing your body. This pasta is so full of green goodness, and the creamy, rich pesto makes it really filling and satisfying.
This is "Brazil Nut and Rocket Pesto Pasta" from her first book "Deliciously Ella".
Ingredients
- 120g brazil nuts
- 50g pine nuts
- 1 1/2 avocados
- 50g Rocket
- 30g Basil
- Juice from 1 1/2 lemons
- 8 tbsp olive oil, plus some extra for the veg
- 500g penne pasta
- 2 courgettes
- 1 head of broccoli
- 225g peas
- Pinches of salt and pepper
Method
- First, make the pesto. Place the brazil nuts and pine nuts in a food processor and whiz until completely crushed and look a bit like chunky breadcrumbs. Add the avocado flesh, rocket, basil, lemon juice, olive oil, 8 tbsp of water and the salt and pepper. Blend again until you have a smooth, creamy pesto.
- Next, cook the pasta according to packet instructions. I usually cook the pasta in a large boiling pot as it makes it easy to combine and stir everything together at the end.
- While the pasta cooks, chop the courgettes into thin slices and the broccoli into bite size pieces (I cut each floret into quarters unless they're small). Place them together in a frying pan with a little olive oil and sauté until they're cooked and softened, usually about 10 minutes.
- While these cook, prepare the peas. I do this by putting them in a microwavable bowl, covering them with boiling water and microwaving for 2 minutes. Ella cooks them in a saucepan but it depends what you find easiest.
- Once everything has finished cooking, drain the pasta and combine with the veggies and pesto in the large boiling pan. Done!
In Ella's book, she claims that this recipe serves 4. However, I've found that because it's so rich and filling, there's easily enough to serve 6.
If I have any left over, I store it in plastic containers in the fridge; it warms up really nicely in the microwave and makes a really nice, quick dinner.
