Chicken With Kale Spinach Pesto With Toasted Walnuts Recipes

SPINACH PESTO BAKED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375˚F. Place chicken flat in the bottom of a baking dish and spread 1-2 tbsp pesto on top of each chicken breast.
• Layer spinach on top of the pesto, then place the tomatoes and artichoke hearts on top of the spinach.
• Cover the top with mozzarella cheese.
• Bake on lower middle rack for 30-45 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through (165˚F internal temperature.) Serve warm. Enjoy!

SPINACH, WALNUT AND GOLDEN RAISIN PESTO PASTA WITH ITALIAN CHICKEN SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Grill the sausages, covered with a medium heatproof bowl, until nice and charred and no longer pink on the inside, flipping once, 6 to 8 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board, let cool slightly, then slice on the bias. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Poach the garlic cloves in the boiling water for 5 minutes, then transfer them with a slotted spoon to a food processor. Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook to al dente according to the package directions.
• Meanwhile, add the walnuts to the food processor with the garlic and pulse until chopped, about 8 times. Add the spinach, basil, cheese, olive oil, raisins, salt, pepper and lemon zest and juice. Pulse about 10 times, until combined but still rustically chopped. Season with additional salt and pepper if needed.
• Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Using a spider, add the pasta to the skillet. Add the spinach pesto and toss to combine. Heat until warmed through. Season to taste if necessary and serve immediately topped with grilled sausage slices.

CHICKEN WITH KALE & SPINACH PESTO WITH TOASTED WALNUTS

Steps:

• Prep kale: cut away center stem, and rinse thoroughly.
• Prep spinach: thaw, and squeeze out excess liquid.
• In a large pot, bring slightly salted water to a boil.
• Place kale in water and let blanch for 1 1/2 minutes.
• Remove kale and either immerse in cold water or run under cold water; drain well.
• In the large bowl of a food processor, place : 2 T of the oil, sliced clove of garlic, lemon juice, sunflower seeds, Parmesan cheese, salt, and drained kale and spinach.
• Pulse and scrap down sides repeatedly, until completely blended, and to the consistence you desire. ** I needed to add the other tablespoon of oil and some pasta water, to get the "saucier" consistency that I wanted. Set completed pesto aside.
• In medium-large pot, bring slightly salted water to boil.
• Place chicken in water and boil 15-20 minutes, making certain it's completely cooked. Let cool.
• Using two forks, shred the chicken; set aside.
• Heat a small saucepan and add the chopped walnuts; toast for about 2 minutes. Set aside.
• Bring a large pot of good salted water to boil; add spaghetti, and cook according to package directions. **I used an organic, whole wheat pasta to make it healthier.
• Remove a cup of the pasta water and set it aside for possible use in the pesto. Drain pasta and place in a bowl with 2-3 tablespoons of butter; toss to coat.
• Place pasta on plate, add shredded chicken and pesto, and top with toasted walnuts. Enjoy!

SPINACH-PESTO SPIRAL CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Pound chicken breasts with a meat mallet to 1/4-in. thickness., In a food processor, combine spinach, basil, garlic, oil, cheese, walnuts and broth. Cover and process until blended. Stir in tomatoes, artichoke hearts, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Spread over chicken. Starting at a short side, roll up and secure with toothpicks. , Place in two greased 11x7-in. baking dishes, seam side down. Sprinkle with remaining salt and pepper. Bake 40-45 minutes or until a thermometer reads 170°. Discard toothpicks before serving.

SPINACH PESTO CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Mix the spinach and pesto together in a bowl; spread half the mixture into the bottom of a glass baking dish. Place the chicken breasts onto the spinach mixture; top with the rest of the mixture. Cover the dish with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 30 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle the Parmesan cheese. Return to the oven and bake until the cheese has begun to melt and brown, about 15 minutes.

KALE PESTO WITH WALNUT AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Toast the walnuts in a dry skillet until lightly browned; let cool. Pulse in a food processor until finely ground.
• Add the kale and 1/4 teaspoon salt and pulse until finely chopped.
• Add the parmesan and pulse to combine.
• Slowly pour in the olive oil, pulsing to incorporate. Transfer the pesto to a bowl. You'll have about 1 cup pesto; use about 1/2 cup for 1 pound pasta.

SPINACH PESTO

Steps:

• Place the first 6 ingredients in a food processor; cover and pulse until chopped. Add the walnuts, lemon juice and zest; cover and process until blended. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream., Serve desired amount of pesto with pasta. Transfer remaining pesto to ice cube trays. Cover and freeze up to 1 month., To use frozen pesto: Thaw in the refrigerator for 3 hours. Serve with pasta.