Quinoa Pasta with Courgette and Pesto Sauce

By: Ramona Cuisine from ramonascuisine.com

By: Ramona Cuisine from ramonascuisine.com

"This courgette and pesto pasta sauce has to be one of the best ever for me. It is my top two pasta sauce for sure. The quinoa pasta is a pretty new one and if you can not find it (I am sure you will though) you could use any healthier pasta. I bought this in France last time where I have found two varieties, one red which is a tomato quinoa pasta and the other one is green and has parsley in it. They are super light and delicious."

NotesThere are other options of healthier pasta available, soo many varieties appeared lately that I have not cooked a plain standard pasta for over a couple of years now. I buy buckwheat, gluten free, quinoa, rye pasta and all these soba noodles which I absolutely adore and those come in so many flavours and types that is incredible! I love it!

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Serves4

Preparation Time5 min

Cooking Time15 min

Ingredients

300 g quinoa pasta
250 g chicken breast (cut into small strips) optional
2 courgettes (grated)
100 g kale (finely shredded) or cavolo nero
4 tbsp pesto sauce green
100 g cheese (grated)
2-3 cloves garlic (finely grated or chopped)
30 g Parmesan cheese (to sprinkle)
1 generous pinch pepper (freshly ground)
3-4 springs parsley (to garnish) or basil

Instruction

If you decide to put chicken in, start by placing a pan over medium heat and cook the chicken strips for about 5 minutes.
Add garlic, shredded cavolo nero or kale (or both ?? ) and cook for 2 minutes.
Meanwhile, place a pot with water to boil over high heat. Depending on the pasta you are using the cooking time which will slightly differ. If you are using a standard, conventional pasta that will need cooking for longer than the soba or quinoa pasta which normally cooks in 5 min. So depending on the cooking time, start cooking the pasta in such a way that finishes pretty much at the same time with the sauce.
Add the grated courgette and pesto sauce to the chicken and cook for a further 2 min.
When the sauce is almost ready, add the grated cheese and mix well, allow the cheese to melt and remove from the heat.
Place the cooked pasta over the sauce or the other way around and serve.
Sprinkle some parmesan cheese and parsley and enjoy! Bon appetit!