Tuscan Pesto-Dressed Penne With Crispy Kale With Garlic And Broiled Tomato Crostini

Serves: 4

Ally Shanahan

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

38

Spice

43

Sweetness

51

Sourness

41

mins

Prep time (avg)

5.9

Difficulty

Ingredients:

450 g

Penne Rigate

1 cup

Pine Nut

2 cloves

Garlic (halved)

2 tbsps

Thyme (fresh)

Directions:

1

Place a rack in the center of the oven

2

Preheat the broiler

3

Cook the pasta in boiling salted water to al dente, 8 to 10 minutes

4

Heads up: reserve a mugful or about 1 1/2 cups starchy cooking water just before draining

5

Arrange the kale on a cooling rack over a baking sheet

6

Dress the kale lightly with EVOO and season with salt, pepper and a little nutmeg

7

Broil until crisp and charred at the edges, 3 to 5 minutes

8

Remove from the oven and reserve

9

Toast the nuts in a small skillet over medium heat until fragrant

10

Place the herbs in food processor and add the nuts

11

Then grate in the garlic, season with salt and pepper, and add cheeses and 1/2 cup EVOO

12

Pulse into a thick pesto sauce and adjust the seasoning

13

Transfer to a large serving bowl

14

Add 1 cup of the starchy water to the pesto

15

Toss the pasta and sauce to combine

16

If the pasta is dry, add the remaining 1/2 starchy water

17

Fold in half of the crispy kale and garnish with the remainder

18

Serve with Broiled Tomato Crostini

19

Heat the broiler

20

Arrange the tomatoes on a baking sheet and dress with the thyme, salt and pepper and drizzle with EVOO

21

Broil until charred at the edges, 10 minutes

22

Chop the tomatoes and reserve

23

Just before serving, char the toasts on each side, rub with the cut garlic, drizzle with EVOO and top the toast with the chopped, broiled tomatoes