My Italian friend first showed me how to make this fresh spinach pasta with pesto. Snipping it straight into boiling water with kitchen scissors, no pasta machine, no fuss. It felt easy, relaxed, and completely natural.
This fresh spinach pasta with pesto is one of my favorite recipes when I want something homemade but easy.
The spinach dough gives the pasta a lovely color and soft bite, and when tossed with a creamy basil-spinach pesto, it turns into something really special.
I love using walnuts for a warm, earthy base, and the mix of Pecorino and Parmesan adds just the right sharpness and depth.
What I like most is how simple it is, no pasta machine needed. Just a food processor, a pot of salted water, and a pair of kitchen scissors to snip the dough straight in.
The pesto clings beautifully to the chewy pasta, and a splash of pasta water brings everything together into a silky, satisfying sauce.
Whether you're after a homemade spinach pasta recipe or a quick spinach pesto pasta, this one always delivers.
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⭐Why You'll Love This Fresh Spinach Pasta with Pesto
- No Pasta Machine Needed: You simply snip the dough into the pot; easy and stress-free.
- Bright and Balanced Pesto: The mix of basil and spinach keeps it fresh and creamy without overpowering the pasta.
- Cheesy and Nutty Flavor: The combination of walnuts, Pecorino, and Parmesan gives the pesto a rich, layered taste.
- Quick and Hands-On: You're involved from start to finish, and it all comes together in under an hour.
- Perfect for Any Night: Light enough for weeknights, but impressive enough to serve to guests.
🧾Spinach Pasta with Pesto Ingredients
Here's what you need to make this Spinach Pasta with Pesto recipe:
- 00 Flour: I always use 00 flour for homemade pasta because it gives the dough such a smooth, delicate texture.
- Baby Spinach (For Pasta): I love adding fresh spinach straight into the dough; it gives it a beautiful green color.
- Salt (For Water and Dough): A full tablespoon might sound like a lot, but it is essential for seasoning.
- Walnuts: I use walnuts here because they're always in my pantry and I like their slightly sweet, toasty flavor.
- Garlic Cloves: Just two cloves are enough to give the pesto a nice, savory base.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: This is one of those ingredients where quality really matters.
- Fresh Basil: The basil brings that bright, herby flavor you expect in a good pesto.
- Spinach (For Pesto): I add extra spinach, because it mellows out the basil and helps create that creamy, velvety texture.
- Pecorino Cheese: I like the salty bite Pecorino adds; it wakes up all the other flavors in the pesto.
- Parmesan Reggiano Cheese: This adds that nutty richness that rounds out the pesto.
- Lemon Juice: Just half a lemon brightens everything up.
- Salt and Ground Black Pepper: A little more seasoning helps tie the whole pesto together.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
👩🏻🍳How to Make Fresh Spinach Pasta with Pesto
These step-by-step instructions and photos will help you visualize how to make this recipe. See the recipe card for a printable version of this recipe.
1. Make the Dough: In a food processor, blend flour and spinach until a soft dough forms. Transfer to a floured surface, knead for 1 minute, and shape into a disc.
2. Cook the Pasta: Flatten the dough to 1.5 cm, cut pieces directly into a pot of salted boiling water using kitchen scissors, and cook until they float (about 5 minutes).
3. Prepare the Pesto: In a food processor, blend garlic, walnuts, olive oil, basil, spinach, cheeses, lemon juice, salt, and pepper until smooth. Warm the pesto in a pan over medium-low heat.
4. Combine and Serve: Toss the cooked pasta into the pesto, stir gently for 1 minute, add pasta water to loosen if needed, and serve topped with Parmesan shavings.
📖Variations
- Swap the Walnuts for Almonds or Cashews: I've used almonds when I ran out of walnuts. Cashews also work well if you want a richer texture.
- Add Grilled Chicken or Shrimp: When I want to make it more filling, I top the pasta with slices of grilled chicken or a few seared shrimp; it turns into a full dinner with barely any extra effort.
- Try Arugula Instead of Spinach in the Pesto: Arugula gives the pesto a peppery bite that's really nice if you're in the mood for something a bit bolder.
- Use Lemon Zest for Extra Brightness: Sometimes I add a bit of finely grated lemon zest to the pesto in addition to the juice; it gives it a stronger citrusy aroma.
- Top with Toasted Breadcrumbs: A handful of crispy breadcrumbs on top adds a little crunch, especially if you're skipping extra cheese. I toast mine with extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of garlic powder.
🍽 What to Serve with Spinach Pasta with Pesto
When I serve spinach pasta with pesto, I keep things light and fresh. A tomato burrata salad or cucumber salad adds a nice contrast, and some crusty ciabatta is perfect for soaking up the sauce.
Sautéed zucchini or asparagus works well on the side, and for dessert, I like to finish with a lemon mousse or panna cotta.
💭Tips for Recipe Success
Use Kitchen Scissors with Short Blades: I've found that small, sharp scissors, in particular, make it easier to cut the dough directly into the pot with more control and less sticking.
Make the Pesto Ahead of Time: I often prep the pesto a day before and keep it in a sealed jar in the fridge; it saves time and actually lets the flavors deepen overnight.
Grate the Cheese Right Before Using: I always freshly grate the Pecorino and Parmesan instead of buying pre-grated; it melts better and gives the pesto a creamier finish.
Taste and Adjust the Pesto: After blending, I always take a quick taste and adjust the lemon, salt, or cheese if needed. A tiny tweak makes a big difference.
Store the Pasta and Pesto Separately: I always keep the cooked pasta and any leftover pesto in separate airtight containers. When I'm ready to eat, I reheat the pasta with a splash of hot water and stir in the cold pesto; it keeps the sauce tasting fresh and prevents it from overcooking.
🍝More Pasta Recipes to Try!
If you're enjoying this Fresh Spinach Pasta with Pesto, don't miss these other delicious pasta recipes worth adding to your rotation:
- Shrimp Scampi Pasta
- Pesto Pasta
- Baked Ziti
- Ground Turkey Pasta
- Homemade Mac and Cheese
- Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
- Pasta Alla Norma (Eggplant Pasta)
- Cherry Tomato Pasta
🍛More Dinner Recipes!
Here are more of my favorite dinner recipes! Try these:
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Recipe
Fresh Spinach Pasta with Pesto
Ingredients
For the Pasta
- 150 g 00 Flour
- 150 g Baby Spinach
- 1 tablespoon Salt
For the Pesto
- 50 g Walnuts
- 2 Garlic Cloves
- 70 ml Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 30 g Basil
- 50 g Spinach
- 30 g Pecorino Cheese
- 50 g Parmesan Reggiano Cheese
- Juice of ½ Lemon
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
Instructions
- Bring a medium pot of water to a rolling boil over medium-high heat and stir in the salt.
- Add the flour and baby spinach to a food processor and pulse until a soft dough forms, scraping down the sides as needed.
- Transfer the dough to a medium bowl and knead it lightly with a sprinkle of flour for 1 minute until smooth and elastic.
- Shape the dough into a disc and flatten it to about 1.5 cm thick on a cutting board.
- Hold the disc above the boiling water and cut it directly into the pot using kitchen scissors, letting the pieces fall into the water.
- Cook the fresh pasta for around 5 minutes, or until the pieces float to the surface.
- To make the pesto, add garlic, walnuts, extra virgin olive oil, basil, spinach, Pecorino, Parmesan Reggiano, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper to a food processor and blend until smooth.
- Warm the pesto in a large pan over medium-low heat for about 1 minute.
- Transfer the cooked pasta to the pan with the pesto and stir to combine, adding a splash of pasta water until creamy.
- Serve immediately and garnish with extra Parmesan shavings.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Sandra says
I love this recipe for Pasta using Basil Pesto, I thought making pasta from scratch is a difficult process but this recipe has change my thoughts.