Meal

Cavolo Nero Pesto Pasta with Zanetti Grana Padano by Julia Ostro

Bring authentic Italian flavour to your table with this simple yet elegant Cavolo Nero Pesto Pasta featuring Zanetti Grana Padano. Julia Ostro’s fresh cavolo nero pesto combines Tuscan kale, walnuts, garlic and extra virgin olive oil with the distinctive savoury, nutty character of Zanetti Grana Padano, creating a rich and vibrant sauce that perfectly coats al dente pasta.

Finished with an extra sprinkle of Zanetti Grana Padano and a drizzle of olive oil, this versatile recipe is ideal for sharing with family and friends. Easy to prepare and full of wholesome ingredients, it’s a delicious celebration of quality Italian cheese and seasonal produce.

20 Minutes

4-5

Easy

4-5

easy

Ingredients

400 g rigatoni or other pasta of your choice
1 bunch cavolo nero (tuscan kale)
1 clove garlic
100 g walnuts
80 g Zanetti Grana Padano, grated, plus extra to serve
150 extra virgin olive oil, plus extra to serve
Sea salt, to taste

Cooking Instructions

01
Remove the leaves from the cavolo nero e stalks and reserve for another use.
02
In a large saucepan filled with salted boiling water, cook the cavolo nero for 2 minutes, then drain and run under cold water to refresh. Drain as much water from the Tuscan Kale (cavolo nero) as possible. If you don’t like a strong garlic flavour, you can also blanch the garlic clove with the cavolo nero.
03
In the bowl of a food processor, place the cooked Tuscan Kale (cavolo nero) leaves, garlic and walnuts. Blitz to a rough paste. Add the Zanetti Grana Padano and then with the motor running, stream in the olive oil. Season well and transfer to a bowl.
04
Meanwhile, cook the pasta in the sauce saucepan, until al dente. Drain and transfer to a large serving bowl, reserving some of the pasta water.
05
Add around ¾ of the pesto to the pasta and a good splash of cooking water. Toss well to coat the pasta, adding more water and pesto, as needed,to coat the pasta well. Season to taste.
06
Serve with extra olive oil and a grating of Zanetti Grana Padano.

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