Pasta with Pesto & Vegetables

Serves 3

The simplicity of this dish really amazes me.It needs very little effort,hardly any sauteing but can still be very healthy and delicious.Both my hubby and daughter are big fans of pasta dishes and this one's my favorite too!

Ingredients :

For pasta:
Pasta - 200 g
Water for boiling
Salt
Olive oil - 1 tsp
For pesto:
Basil leaves - 20 g -1 cup
Walnuts - 1 tbsp
Garlic - 1 clove
salt - 1/2 tsp - or as needed
Cheese - 1/4 cup
Pepper powder - 1/4 tsp
Olive oil - 1/4 cup - around 3 tbsp
Butter or olive oil - 1 tbsp (soften if using butter)
Vegetables:
Capsicum - 1/2 a medium one chopped
Zucchini - 1/4 of a big one chopped
olive oil - 1 tsp

Method:
-Boil the pasta with sufficient water,salt and olive oil.Drain and set aside Preserve about 3 tablespoons of the water.
-Add one tsp of oil to a pan and saute the vegetables until roasted,5-7 minutes with a little salt.
-Grind the walnuts,basil,garlic and 1/4 cup of olive oil in a blender to a fine paste.
-Transfer the contents to a bowl and beat in the cheese with a fork.
-Then add the butter and beat the mixture.If using olive oil add it in the blender in the first stage..
-Mix the pasta with 3 tbsp of the hot water in which the pasta was boiled.
Assembling:
-Add the pesto sauce to the pasta and mix good.
-Add the vegetables and toss well.Sprinkle some cheese.

Note:
The basil leaves can be replaced with Spinach leaves.

Sending to Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids - Italian Dishes and Nithu's Page &
 Continental cooking and Only Continental Giveaway Page'