Walnut Broccoli Rabe Pesto Linguine Recipe

Walnut Broccoli Rabe Pesto Linguine is the perfect main dish to perk up your Meatless Mondays. It’s amazing how so few ingredients can make drab linguine sing in your mouth. Make the pesto the day before, and all you have to do is cook the linguine and toss.

Walnut Broccoli Rabe Pesto Linguine Recipe

1/3 cup plus 2 Tablespoons walnuts
1/2 pound broccoli rabe, trimmed
1 garlic clove
1/3 cup plus 1 Tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
Pinch of crushed red pepper
1/3 cup grated pecorino cheese, plus more for serving
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
3/4 pound linguine pasta

Preheat the oven to 350° F. Spread the walnuts in a pie plate and toast for 8 minutes, until fragrant and lightly golden; let cool. Chop 2 tablespoons of the walnuts.

In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the broccoli rabe until tender, about 3 minutes. Drain and let cool under cold water. Squeeze out the excess water and coarsely chop the broccoli rabe.

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In a food processor, mince the garlic. Add the 1/3 cup of walnuts. Pulse until coarsely chopped. Add the broccoli rabe, olive oil and crushed red pepper and process until the broccoli rabe is very finely chopped. Add the 1/3 cup of pecorino and pulse until just combined. Season with salt and pepper. Scrape the pesto into a large bowl.

In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the linguine until al dente. Drain, reserving 3/4 cup of the pasta cooking water. Add the linguine to the pesto sauce, then stir in the reserved cooking water and toss until the pasta is well coated with the pesto sauce. Sprinkle with the chopped walnuts and serve at once, passing more pecorino at the table.

Yield: 4 servings

Make Ahead:
• The broccoli rabe pesto can be refrigerated overnight. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Recipe Source: “Food & Wine: Reinventing the Classics” edited by Dana Cowin (TI Inc. Books)
Reprinted with express permission.