Popping Tomatoes with Kale & Pine Nut Pesto Penne
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Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 20 mins
You might not be able to say it three times fast, but you’ll be a whizz at whipping up this dinner in no time at all. Just blitz together a pesto of mint, kale and buttery pine nuts, toss through wholewheat penne and scatter with juicy roast tomatoes.
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690 kcal
(per portion)
Ingredients you'll need
  • 200g wholewheat penne
  • 250g cherry tomatoes
  • 200g kale
  • 25g pine nuts
  • 1 lemon
  • 1 garlic clove
  • A large handful of mint, leaves only
  • 35g sun dried tomatoes
From your kitchen
  • Sea salt
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • Freshly ground pepper
Step by step this way
  • 1.

    Heat your grill to high. Halve any larger cherry tomatoes. Tumble them on to a foil lined baking tray. Sprinkle with salt and slide under the grill for 5-10 mins, till the tomatoes have popped from their skins and softened. Leave to cool.

  • 2.

    Roughly chop the sun dried tomatoes. Pop them into a small bowl and cover with boiling water. Leave to one side to soften. Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil.

  • 3.

    Finely slice the kale leaves and stems, discarding any tough or woody ends. Add to the boiling water. Cook for 2 mins, drain and refresh under cold water. Squeeze the kale to remove as much excess water as possible.

  • 4.

    Tip the penne into a large pan and cover with boiling water. Add a pinch of salt. Bring to the boil and simmer for 8-10 mins till the pasta is al dente (soft with a slight bite).

  • 5.

    While the pasta is cooking, heat a small frying pan. Tip in the pine nuts. Toast for 2-3 mins till golden. Transfer to the bowl of a food processor.

  • 6.

    Peel and finely chop the garlic. Zest and juice the lemon. Add the garlic, lemon juice and zest, and the dry kale to the processor with the pine nuts. Tear half the mint leaves into the processor. Pour in 2 tbsp olive oil. Whizz till smooth. Add a little of the sun dried tomato water if you like, to loosen the pesto. Taste and season.

  • 7.

    Drain the pasta and tip back into the pan. Drain the sun dried tomatoes. Add them to the pasta. Stir through the kale pesto. Gently fold through the grilled popped tomatoes. Roughly tear the remaining mint leaves and add them. Spoon into warm shallow bowls to serve.

  • Tip

    Hey pesto!
    No food processor? Finely chop the kale, pine nuts, basil and garlic. Mix well with the lemon juice, zest, olive oil and a little sun dried tomato water if needed.

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