Spinach pesto sauce: a healthy twist on a classic

 Metadescription: Discover how to make a delicious spinach pesto sauce and use it to elevate your pasta dishes with a healthy, flavorful touch

Spinach pesto sauce: a healthy twist on a classic

 Pesto sauce was first created in the Liguria region of Italy. As with many culinary delights, it has moved through various forms through the years. The original presto sauce is referenced in the Medieval period. However, the pesto you know and love today can be traced to about the middle of the 19th century.

 While the traditional sauce is delicious, if you’re looking for a nutritious and flavorful addition, you should consider spinach pesto sauce. 

What is spinach pesto sauce?

 Spinach pesto sauce uses the same ingredients as classic pesto sauce. However, it switches pine nuts for spinach. This is particularly beneficial if you are outside of Italy and pine nuts are scarce. As well as being cheaper and easier to get hold of, spinach is highly nutritious. This makes your spinach pesto sauce a healthier option. 

Ingredients used to make spinach pesto

 Your classic pesto pasta sauce consists of ground pine nuts, olive oil, basil, parmesan, and perhaps some garlic. To make spinach pesto sauce, you simply switch out the pine nuts for spinach. 

The result is a similar, yet enticingly different flavor.

How spinach pesto differs from traditional pesto

The only difference in these two pesto sauces is the use of pine nuts for traditional sauce, and spinach for a more modern, nutritious alternative.  The spinach will make the sauce seem creamier. It’s also likely to be a lighter, fresher, green color. 

 It’s key to maintain quality in regards to all the ingredients, from the highest-quality Italian EVO olive oil to authentic Italian parmesan cheese.

Using spinach pesto sauce for pasta

The beauty of pasta is that it’s a simple, yet delicious meal with almost any sauce. In fact, spinach pesto sauce for pasta is potentially one of the best mixes you’ll ever try.  Pasta and spinach pesto blend well together, and offer a flavorful creamy dish.
The fact it looks great and is healthy is a bonus. 

Best pasta types to pair with spinach pesto

In Italy, it’s very important to pair the right pasta with each sauce. If you’re looking at a spinach pesto sauce recipe, you’ll want to use a ridged pasta, such as Fusilli. The ridges will hold onto the pesto, making every forkful a delight. Hollow pastas, such as bucatini, or the ear-shaped orecchiette also work well as the openings allow the pesto sauce to be scooped up.

Don’t be afraid to experiment to find the pasta you love the most with your spinach pesto sauce. 

How to toss pasta with spinach pesto for a perfect dish

The real secret to creating a perfect spinach pesto pasta dish is to get the pasta cooked properly. It must be ‘al dente’, soft yet firm to the bite.  To create the perfect dish, reserve a little of the pasta water and blend the spinach pesto sauce into this. 

Then, add the pasta to a skillet with a little butter and sauteed garlic. As they simmer, slowly add the pesto sauce, stirring at all times. 

The process brings out all the right flavors. Try it to see for yourself.