Walnut & Pear Spaghetti
photo by Karen Elizabeth
- Ready In:
- 20mins
- Ingredients:
- 9
- Serves:
-
2
ingredients
- 200 g spaghetti
- 200 g baby spinach leaves, washed well and roughly chopped
- 50 g gorgonzola (I don't like either of these, so I used 1 tablespoon parmesan and 2 tablespoons Greek yoghurt) or 50 g blue cheese (I don't like either of these, so I used 1 tablespoon parmesan and 2 tablespoons Greek yoghurt)
- 1⁄2 ripe pears, peeled, cored and very thinly sliced or 1 granny smith apple, cored and very thinly sliced
- 1⁄2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1⁄2 teaspoon dried sage
- 1⁄2 cup walnuts, shelled, roughly chopped
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- fresh ground black pepper, to taste
directions
- Three quarters fill a large pot with water, bring to the boil, add the spaghetti and cook till al dente (about 8 minutes).
- Drain the spaghetti being careful to RESERVE SOME OF THE COOKING WATER.
- Return the hot spaghetti to the pot and, over a low heat, add the baby spinach leaves and cheese and stir until the baby spinach leaves wilt and the cheese starts to melt; add a little of the pasta water and continue to stir. (When I made this using yoghurt instead of cheese, I added very little water; judge how much water to use by the consistency).
- Add the pear (or apple), walnuts, thyme and sage, stir well, and allow to warm through.
- Drizzle with lemon juice, season to taste with freshly ground black pepper and serve hot.
- Notes: For a smoother sauce, in a small pan, over a very low heat, melt the cheese with some of the pasta water and stir in the pear (or apple); then stir in the spaghetti and baby spinach leaves, until they are well coated; then add the lemon juice and gently fold in the walnuts, thyme and sage.
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Reviews
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Very good! Since I didn't have a pear, and I did have granny smith apples, that's what I used, DH sliced it wafer thin, so tart and crisp. I felt that I had quite a bit of spinach, but I do enjoy it, so that was fine. I didn't have walnuts, so I subbed macadamias, but another time will make sure I have walnuts, it is a completely different taste, I know. I used step 6, preparing the sauce separately, it worked well for me. Lovely pasta, bluemoon!
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What a delicious combination - the pears, blue cheese, walnuts and lemon all compliment each other so well. I used fresh herbs, and just half an ounce of the cheese, since the kind I have is really strong (and added a little bit of chicken broth for the moisture). I subbed arugula for spinach and let it just barely wilt on the pasta before serving. Fantastic dinner!
Tweaks
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What a delicious combination - the pears, blue cheese, walnuts and lemon all compliment each other so well. I used fresh herbs, and just half an ounce of the cheese, since the kind I have is really strong (and added a little bit of chicken broth for the moisture). I subbed arugula for spinach and let it just barely wilt on the pasta before serving. Fantastic dinner!
RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
July 2008 update: VERY happy to be back on Zaar after about a two year absence due to having had no internet connection at home, and having been too unwell for a time so that getting re-connected wasn't even a priority!
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<br>And really looking forward to getting back into the Zaar world and connecting again with the many wonderful people I knew before, and new people, of course!