Rocking Rocket Pesto Pasta

Step 1

Cook the pasta according to instructions on the package.

Step 2

If you’re using dry sundried tomatoes, take some water from the pan and let the tomatoes soak in a bowl of hot water.

Step 3

Without using any oil, heat up the wok on medium heat. Add the pine nuts and stir them around until they are slightly browned and smell good. Be careful not to let them burn. Set aside.

Step 4

Now on low heat, add 1 generous tbsp of olive oil to the wok.

Step 5

Chop and sauté (fry slowly) 1 onion.

Step 6

When the onion’s done, put it in a blender or mixer bowl (oil and all). Also add half of the rocket, almost all of the basil (destemmed if needed), ¾ of the roasted pine nuts, walnuts, salt, pepper, and 1 extra generous tbsp of olive oil. This will be your rocket pesto. Let it rest for a second.

Step 7

Heat up the last tbsp of olive oil in the wok.

Step 8

Chop and sauté the other 2 onions.

Step 9

Deseed and chop the red pepper, if you’re using that. Add to the pan and stir.

Step 10

Deseed and chop the yellow bell pepper. Add to the pan and stir. Make sure the pan’s on low heat.

Step 11

Now, blend all the ingredients for the rocket pesto until it has a nice texture. It doesn’t have to be super smooth, but it shouldn’t be too crunchy either. If the latter’s the case, you can add another tbsp of olive oil, but better yet: add some water from the pasta you've got cooking (1 tbsp at a time). The starch from the pasta makes for a nice binder. (Using ‘normal’ water can give off a bland taste to your pesto, too.)

Step 12

Peel and crush/chop/slice the garlic. Add to the pan and stir for on low heat for about 1 minute.

Step 13

Drain the pasta and add it to the wok, together with the pesto.

Step 14

Slice the sundried tomatoes into tiny pieces and add them, too.

Step 15

Serve with some left-over rocket and sprinkle the other pine nuts and some basil leaves on top. Voila!