Spaghetti With Pesto Trapanese

Vegetarian
Health score
46%
Spaghetti With Pesto Trapanese
45 min.
6
435kcal

Suggestions

This Sicilian pesto is a wonderful change from the usual basil and pine nut pesto from Genoa. The addition of tomatoes and almonds gives it a unique flavor and a beautiful color. It is a very versatile sauce that can be used on pasta, as a dip, or even as a spread on a sandwich. It is also very easy to make and can be prepared in advance and stored in the refrigerator for a few days. The key to a good pesto Trapanese is to use good quality ingredients, especially the olive oil, which should be extra virgin and have a strong flavor. The almonds should be fresh and preferably peeled, and the tomatoes should be ripe and flavorful. If you can find Sicilian almonds and tomatoes, even better! The pasta you use is also important. A good quality spaghetti or bucatini will make a big difference in the final dish. To make the dish even more special, you can add some fresh ricotta salata or pecorino cheese on top. This recipe is a great option for a quick and easy weeknight meal, but it is also impressive enough to serve to guests. It is sure to become a favorite in your household!

Ingredients

  • pound pasta like spaghetti 
  • 0.5 cup almonds canned (80 gr) (if you can get the Sicilian ones from Noto they are wonderful)
  • 0.3 cup pinenuts (30 gr)
  • 0.5 cup olive oil extra virgin (100 gr)
  •  garlic clove 
  •  tomatoes peeled seeded
  • 2.5 cups basil (60 gr)
  • 2.5 cups basil (60 gr)
  • servings salt and pepper as needed
  • servings pecorino fresh grated

Equipment

  • food processor
  • pot
  • mortar and pestle

Directions

  1. Place a large (this is key) pot of water to boil. Salt when it boils, not before.
  2. Meanwhile, make the pesto: In a mortar (or use a food processor with a blade) pound together the oil, almonds and pine-nuts.
  3. Add the garlic, 2 ice cubes and the rest of the ingredients, pounding quickly to make a paste.You want to leave a bit of a texture for crunch.
  4. Cook the pasta al dente, as per directions, drain and reserve some of the boiling water. Toss the pasta with the pesto, using some of the reserved water to make it creamier. Grate some fresh pecorino or ricotta salata (or both) over and serve hot with a leaf of basil to garnish.

Nutrition Facts

Calories435kcal
Protein13.02%
Fat30.37%
Carbs56.61%

Properties

Glycemic Index
47.83
Glycemic Load
23.52
Inflammation Score
-8
Nutrition Score
22.733043478261%

Flavonoids

Cyanidin
0.29mg
Catechin
0.15mg
Epigallocatechin
0.31mg
Epicatechin
0.07mg
Eriodictyol
0.03mg
Naringenin
0.33mg
Apigenin
0.02mg
Luteolin
0.02mg
Isorhamnetin
0.31mg
Kaempferol
0.09mg
Myricetin
0.08mg
Quercetin
0.31mg

Nutrients percent of daily need

Calories:435.1kcal
21.76%
Fat:14.88g
22.9%
Saturated Fat:1.54g
9.62%
Carbohydrates:62.41g
20.8%
Net Carbohydrates:57.45g
20.89%
Sugar:3.89g
4.33%
Cholesterol:0.51mg
0.17%
Sodium:202.57mg
8.81%
Protein:14.35g
28.71%
Manganese:1.76mg
88.13%
Vitamin K:91.55µg
87.19%
Selenium:48.72µg
69.61%
Vitamin E:4.56mg
30.4%
Vitamin A:1402.87IU
28.06%
Copper:0.52mg
26.08%
Magnesium:104.16mg
26.04%
Phosphorus:257.46mg
25.75%
Fiber:4.96g
19.84%
Iron:2.53mg
14.07%
Zinc:2.06mg
13.75%
Vitamin B2:0.22mg
12.97%
Potassium:452.83mg
12.94%
Vitamin B3:2.4mg
11.99%
Vitamin C:9.73mg
11.79%
Vitamin B6:0.21mg
10.59%
Folate:40.68µg
10.17%
Calcium:93.27mg
9.33%
Vitamin B1:0.14mg
9.2%
Vitamin B5:0.49mg
4.89%