Spaghetti al Pesto di Noci | Abel & Cole
Spaghetti al Pesto di Noci
Clock Image
Prep: 30 mins
Cook: 25 mins
Twirl your spaghetti with a seasonal pesto made with kale, earthy walnuts and a splash of sweetness from roasted red pepper. Perfect for a cosy night in.
This recipe is a:
See this week's box.
Recipe Box Recipe Main Image
687 kcal
(per portion)
Ingredients you'll need
Recipe Ingredients Image
  • 1 red pepper
  • A 100g bag of kale
  • A 35g bag of sun dried tomatoes
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • A 35g bag of walnut halves
  • A 25g bag of breadcrumbs
  • A 200g bag of spaghetti
From your kitchen
  • Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
You'll need
  • Tongs
  • A couple of large bowls
  • Cling film
  • Frying pan
  • Food processor (optional)
  • Large pan with a lid
  • Colander
Step by step this way
  • 1.

    If you have a gas hob, turn on a large hob and set it to medium. Place the pepper directly on the flame and cook it for 10 mins, turning every so often with tongs till blackened all over. Alternatively, heat your grill to high. Halve the pepper and grill it, cut-side down, for 10-15 mins till blackened and charred.

  • 2.

    When the pepper is charred all over, pop it in a bowl and cover the top with cling film. Set aside for 15 mins to cool.

  • 3.

    Slice the thick cores out of the kale leaves. Roughly chop the leaves and put in a large heatproof bowl. Add the sun dried tomatoes. Peel and roughly chop the garlic and add that too. Pour in enough boiling water to cover everything. Set aside for 10 mins to soak.

  • 4.

    While the kale soaks, tip the walnuts into a dry frying pan. Set over a medium heat and toast for 2-3 mins, shaking the pan now and then, till they’re browned and smell nutty. Tip into a food processor.

  • 5.

    Add the breadcrumbs to the warm pan and stir for 1 min till golden. Tip them into the processor as well. Drain the kale, tomatoes and garlic (keep the water), and add them to the processor. Put a large pan of salted water onto boil.

  • 6.

    Peel the charred skin off the pepper (it’s fine if a few black bits cling on). Scrape out the seeds. Roughly chop the pepper and add to the processor with 1 tbsp oil and 2 tbsp of the reserved kale soaking water. Season with plenty of salt and pepper. Blitz to make a chunky pesto.

  • 7.

    Add the spaghetti to the boiling water. Simmer for 8-10 mins till the spaghetti is cooked but not too soft – it should still have a little chew. Drain, then tip back into the pan and add the pesto. Toss together and warm for 2-3 mins, then serve in warm bowls.

  • Tip

    No processor? No problem
    A food processor makes pesto easy, but if you don't have one then finely chop the kale, tomatoes and garlic before soaking. Finely chop the walnuts. Stir everything together in a bowl with the oil and water. It will be chunky, but still as tasty.

This recipe is from