Quinoa pasta with courgette and pesto sauce

A delightful and so packed with goodness dish, tasty and great for a lazier night, yet very healthy and delicios.

Course Dinner, Lunch, Main Dish

Cuisine Mediterranean, Ramona's Cuisine

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 15

Total Time 20

Servings

Calories 559kcal

Author Ramona Sebastian

Equipment

pan
spiriliser
cheese grater
chopping board
knife

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 tablespoon 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 sprigs parsley (to garnish) or basil

Metric - US Imperial

Instructions

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.

Notes

There 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!

A white plate with quinoa pasta, with cheese sprinkled over it.

However, if you do not feel so adventurous just go for a plain linguini and try and use the fresh one instead of the dry. I find it a lot tastier and I am sure you will totally agree.

Nutrition