What is Green Pasta Sauce with Rigatoni
Green Pasta sauce with rigatoni is a healthy pasta sauce made with fresh herbs and olive oil. It is versatile and easy to make your own. It is also fast and simple to make requiring less than 10 minutes of hands on time. It is flavorful and fresh with a bright and herbaceous taste that can be used in a variety of ways.
Ingredients in Green Pasta Sauce Recipe
Fresh garlic: my favorite way to mince garlic is simply to use a garlic press.
Pistachios: You will need about ½ cup of shelled, salted and roasted pistachios plus any additional that you may want add into your pasta salad recipe. You can buy these either pre-shelled or shell them yourselves.
Kale: You will use most of this in your green pasta sauce and the rest to round-out your pasta salad.
Crumbled feta cheese: again, you can use either pre-crumbled or crumble it yourself from a block.
Fresh thyme: remove the stems but no need to chop up too finely as your processor will help with that.
1 lemon: you will use both the zest and juice it helps to give the green rigatoni a super bright flavor.
Salt & Pepper
Olive Oil
Rigatoni Pasta: this is the noodle I chose for this recipe as I like that it is not too dainty and the ridges help to hold onto the pasta sauce. If you would prefer, you can substitute a different noodle. Cellatini or ridged elbows would both be good options.
Hope to Make Green Pasta Sauce Recipe
Add the garlic and 3 cups, packed, of the kale to the bowl of a food processor. Add any remaining kale to a large mixing bowl.
Cook the pasta according to package directions, reserving the pasta water.
While the pasta is cooking add the feta cheese, fresh thyme, lemon zest & juice, salt, pepper and olive oil to the bowl of a food processor and pulse. It does not need to be fully pureed, but should be starting to get smooth.
Drain the pasta and place the cooked noodles in the bowl on top of the reserved kale. Allow to sit for a few minutes which will help to begin to wilt the kale.
Add up to one cup of the pasta cooking water to the sauce. Toss the sauce with the pasta and serve immediately or chill for later.
Is green pasta sauce thick or thin?
That is really your choice. If you add all the water the sauce will be a bit more thin. I enjoy the pasta sauce like this as it easily spreads around the noodles and the pasta absorbs some of the flavor.
If you prefer a thicker pasta sauce, more like a pesto-texture, use less of the pasta water.
Should Green Rigatoni Pasta be served warm or cold?
Again, really your call. I personally think this pasta tastes best served chilled, but warm or room temperature would also be fine.
Other ways to use leftover Green Pasta Sauce:
- Pizza: Use the green pasta sauce as a base sauce for your homemade pizza instead of traditional tomato sauce. Top with your favorite toppings and bake in the oven. A combo of white cheese and fresh tomato slices would be amazing!
- Sandwiches: Spread the green pasta sauce on a sandwich or wrap for a flavorful and easy lunch option. It pairs well with chicken, turkey, mozzarella cheese, and tomatoes.
- Salad dressing: Make the sauce with ½ cup of water and add olive oil to your desired consistency along with a pinch of salt and pepper to make a delicious salad dressing.
- Grilled vegetables: Brush the green pasta sauce onto grilled vegetables like zucchini, eggplant, and bell peppers for a flavorful side dish.
- Marinade: Use the pasta sauce with pistachios as a marinade for chicken or fish. Simply coat the meat with the sauce and let it sit in the fridge for a few hours before grilling or baking.
- Appetizers: Use the green pasta sauce as a dip for crackers, bread, or vegetables. It can also be spread on crostini and topped with fresh mozzarella or cherry tomatoes for a tasty appetizer.
- Baked Potato: Top a baked potato with some of the sauce, some fresh tomato cubes and top with a handful of cheese. Broil until the cheese melts and serve.
How to store leftover Rigatoni with Green Pasta Sauce:
Place the leftover pasta in an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-4 days. This pasta keeps VERY well and would make for amazing leftovers.
What else would be good to add to Rigatoni with Green Pasta Sauce Recipe?
Extra feta cheese, fresh tomato cubes, sundried tomatoes, more pistachios or some diced English cucumber would all be great additions.
Can I make Green Pasta sauce without a food processor?
Of course, pop out your blender and you are ready to go!
What to serve with Green Pasta Sauce?
Try this Copycat Panera Creamy Tomato Soup for a soup and salad combo that would make for a nice evening.
These easy Instant Pot Cranberry Meatballs would be a perfect side dish. Add some rolls or mix it all together for a vegetarian-friendly, yet hearty meal.
Green Pasta Sauce Recipe with Rigatoni
Ingredients
- 2 medium garlic cloves peeled and minced
- ½ cup shelled pistachios
- 1 bunch kale tough stems removed, roughly chopped, divided
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
- 2 Tablespoons chopped stemmed, fresh thyme
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup olive oil
- 12 ounces pasta cooked reserve cooking wate
Instructions
- Add the garlic and 3 cups, packed, of the kale to the bowl of a food processor. Add any remaining kale to a large mixing bowl.
- Cook the pasta according to package directions, reserving the pasta water.
- While the pasta is cooking add the feta cheese, fresh thyme, lemon zest & juice, salt, pepper and olive oil to the bowl of a food processor and pulse.
- Drain the pasta and place the cooked noodles in the bowl on top of the reserved kale. Add up to one cup of the pasta cooking water* (see notes) to the food processor and continue to mix until desired consistency.
- Toss the sauce with the pasta and serve immediately or chill for later.
green pasta sauce