Walnut butter Pasta Sauce
Walnut Butter Pasta Sauce proves that sauce does not have to be complicated. You will have supper ready in 30 minutes and it will be better and healthier than take-out.
One of my favourite dishes growing up was pasta with butter and parmesan; it is still one of my favourite go-to dishes. I decided to add walnuts to this dish to thicken the sauce, give it another level of flavour and because walnuts are good for you. Walnuts are amongst the world’s healthiest foods. http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=99
My nonno Salvatore would take two walnuts and squeeze them together in one hand to break them. I enjoyed eating walnuts with bread as a snack; it was the best. My mother played with walnuts as a child; they didn’t have much toys growing-up and they would often use walnuts and hazelnuts as marbles. They would draw numbers on the ground and then everyone would throw their walnut and see where it landed. The numbers were added up at the end of the game and a winner was declared; the winner going home with all the walnuts. Simple times, simple games and simple delicious recipes.
The butter, garlic and olive oil go into the pan, followed by the peppers.
I like to chop the walnuts with a knife; leave some larger chunks.
Make a little hot spot in the centre of the pan, once the peppers are soft. This allows the walnuts room to toast.
The peppers and walnuts blend well together.
Little work, but big taste.
Walnut Butter Sauce Pasta
Easier than take-out and healthier.
Ingredients
The Suace
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 large red bell pepper
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/2 cup pasta water
- 1 tbsp fresh or dried parsley
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
- freshly ground black pepper
- 1 lbs your choice of any short pasta
Instructions
The Sauce
-
Put a large 6 quart pot to boil.
Melt butter in a medium skillet.
Add whole garlic and infuse the butter.
Thinly slice the red pepper and add. Cook for about 5 minutes until softened.
Remove and discard garlic.
Stir in walnuts and cook for another 2 minutes.
Boil pasta to desired taste.
Add pasta directly into the pan. Use half a cup of the hot pasta water to make more sauce.
Put in the parsley and lightly toss.
Take off the heat and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
Garnish with freshly ground black pepper.
Recipe Notes
Sometimes I add a little half and half cream to this sauce our cream cheese.
1/2 a cup of cream or 4 oz of cream cheese.
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