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    Home » Recipes » Recipes

    06/03/2018 Dinner Recipes

    Kale Pesto Bowties with Roasted Butternut Squash

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    This kale pesto is made with basil, almonds and plenty of parmesan to give an amazing flavour! Serve mixed with bowtie pasta and topped with roasted butternut squash for a little creamy sweetness.

    This kale pesto is made with basil, almonds and plenty of parmesan to give an amazing flavour! Serve mixed with bowtie pasta and topped with roasted butternut squash for a little creamy sweetness. 

    Pasta is such a wonderful thing, isn't it? My favourite thing to do is curl up on the sofa with a big bowl of pasta. It's such a good vehicle for all kinds of flavour and always makes me excited to eat dinner. Whether it's a classic beef lasagne or a base for a creamy skillet chicken dish, it's going to put a smile on mine and Will's faces which is all I really want from cooking, you know?

    Two bowls of kale pesto bowties and roasted butternut squash with lemon, basil leaves and more butternut squash on a marble background with a checked cloth

    Will and I have been carb loading. At least that's what we've been calling it since we've been training for a half marathon.

    I've been told by several people that you actually only need to carb load the day before you're doing a long run but better safe than sorry right? These kale pesto bowties were one of our carb filled dinners which also happened to be filled with loads of vegetables and protein and all that good stuff.

    Bowl of kale pesto pasta on a checked cloth with another bowl and lemon and basil leaves in the background

    Anyway, we did our half marathon on Sunday and it went pretty well. I found it tougher than I thought I would but luckily I was running with my dad who really helped me to keep going and was so super encouraging.

    It was really special to get to do something like this with my dad. He's recently started running (he did his first marathon on his 70th birthday!!) and I'm so proud of him so it meant a lot to both of us to run the half marathon together even though I found it really hard!

    Two bowls of kale pesto pasta with butternut squash on a checked cloth with basil, lemon halves, parmesan and butternut squash cubes in the background

    Anyway, whether you're carb loading or not this recipe is the perfect simple dinner. I'm having a bit of kale obsession at the moment (I recently made this baked gnocchi with kale and it's SO GOOD!) so it was only a matter of time before I threw it in a pesto.

    This version uses blanched almonds instead of pine nuts but otherwise keeps pretty classic with parmesan, garlic, basil and lemon.

    Kale pesto pasta with butternut squash on a checked cloth with basil and lemon

    Probably my favourite part of this dish though is that roasted butternut squash on top. It's such a perfect sweet compliment to the earthy freshness of the kale pesto bowties. I love it!

    How to make kale pesto with roasted butternut squash:

    • Start off by chopping your butternut squash and getting your oven preheated. Your squash will cook while you make everything else.
    • Once that's in the oven get a pot of water on the heat for the pasta then you can concentrate on your pesto which simply involves blending all of your pesto ingredients together.
    • Once those tasks are done you simply cook you pasta and put everything together, easy peasy!

    Two bowls of kale pesto pasta with a checked cloth underneath and pesto ingredients in the background

    Love pasta as much as we do? Get loads more pasta recipes right>> here.

    Keep scrolling to get the recipe...

    WONDERING WHAT TO DO WITH THE LEFTOVER INGREDIENTS YOU’VE GOT ONCE YOU'VE MADE THESE KALE PESTO BOWTIES WITH ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH?

    If you’re anything like me then you’re always looking for ways to save money and avoid food waste so I want to make sure you’ve get plenty of ideas on how to use up any ingredients that are leftover from my recipes!

    Four Cheese Butternut Squash Lasagne with Spinach

    This vegetarian twist on a classic pasta dish is the perfect comfort food! This four cheese butternut squash lasagne is layered with spinach and mushrooms. #lasagne #lasagna #squash #pasta #dinner

    Roasted Butternut Squash & Pancetta Pizza with Rocket

    Roasted butternut squash & pancetta pizza is a tasty change from traditional pizza. The toppings are the perfect combination of sweet and salty!

    Two bowls of kale pesto pasta with a checked cloth underneath and pesto ingredients in the background

    Kale Pesto Bowties with Roasted Butternut Squash

    This kale pesto is made with basil, almonds and plenty of parmesan to give an amazing flavour! Serve mixed with bowtie pasta and topped with roasted butternut squash for a little creamy sweetness. 
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Italian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 562kcal
    Author: Amy Fulwood

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
    • ½ large Butternut Squash peeled and chopped into small cubes
    • 500 g Bowtie Pasta
    • Salt and Pepper

    For the Kale Pesto

    • 100 g Blanched Almonds
    • 70 g Kale roughly chopped
    • 40 g Basil Leaves
    • 1 clove Garlic
    • 50 g Parmesan grated plus extra for serving
    • 1 Lemon juiced
    • 60 ml Olive Oil
    • Salt and Pepper
    UK Measures - US Measures

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 200°C/390°F. Place the butternut squash on a large baking tray with the olive oil and a good sprinkling of salt and pepper. Place in the oven for 20-30 minutes.
    • Bring a pan of salted water to the boil for the pasta. Put all the pesto ingredients in a blender and pulse until mostly smooth or you've reached your desired texture. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
    • When the squash is nearly ready cook the pasta. Drain and return to the pan with the pesto. Mix thoroughly then add the roasted squash, reserving a little for topping. Serve in bowls topped with a final few cubes of squash and plenty of grated parmesan.
    Nutrition Facts
    Kale Pesto Bowties with Roasted Butternut Squash
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 562 Calories from Fat 216
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 24g37%
    Saturated Fat 3g15%
    Cholesterol 5mg2%
    Sodium 147mg6%
    Potassium 405mg12%
    Carbohydrates 68g23%
    Fiber 4g16%
    Sugar 3g3%
    Protein 18g36%
    Vitamin A 1590IU32%
    Vitamin C 24.9mg30%
    Calcium 189mg19%
    Iron 2.3mg13%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Notes

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    Kale pesto pasta in a bowl topped with butternut squash and parmesan on a checked cloth

     

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kristy says

      March 07, 2018 at 1:15 am

      Squash AND pesto??? Yes please!!

      Reply
      • Amy says

        March 07, 2018 at 9:28 pm

        Haha thanks Kristy 🙂

        Reply
    2. Shadi says

      March 07, 2018 at 1:59 pm

      5 stars
      What a delicious and easy meal to have on a weeknight! Homemade pesto sounds great!

      Reply
      • Amy says

        March 07, 2018 at 9:27 pm

        Thanks Shadi!

        Reply
    3. rebecca says

      March 07, 2018 at 2:16 pm

      5 stars
      ohhhh I've got leftover butternut squash in my fridge, totally have to make this with it!

      Reply
      • Amy says

        March 07, 2018 at 9:27 pm

        Thank you Rebecca 🙂

        Reply
    4. Lisa | Garlic & Zest says

      March 07, 2018 at 2:36 pm

      5 stars
      I've only run a 10K -- a half marathon seems like a real leap for me, but I give you a ton of credit! Carbo-loading, though -- I'm all over that. In fact, I could be a champion. This looks like a good start to me.

      Reply
      • Amy says

        March 07, 2018 at 9:27 pm

        Haha thanks Lisa!

        Reply
    5. Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts says

      March 07, 2018 at 2:38 pm

      5 stars
      There are soooo many things in this post that I need to comment on!!

      But my first one....Go your Dad! first marathon at 70, man that is super impressive!

      And carb loading, I like your thinking, best to get your carb loading in!!!!....can I be carb loading for a year??? LOL.

      Lastly. Man this is delicious. Pasta (best food ever!) rich pesto and then sweet butternut. AMAZING!

      Reply
      • Amy says

        March 07, 2018 at 9:27 pm

        Haha, definitely! Thanks Claire 🙂

        Reply
    6. Danielle says

      March 07, 2018 at 2:53 pm

      5 stars
      I love that you're carb loading way before the half marathon! I ran a 5K once, and hated it. Vowed to never do such a thing again. Guess I was just not made to run competitively. Weird because my sister is a marathon runner. Anyways, I love this. I've never made kale pesto, but I love homemade pesto, and of course butternut squash. YUM!

      Reply
      • Amy says

        March 07, 2018 at 9:26 pm

        Haha yes being able to eat loads of carbs is probably the only thing I like about running!

        Reply
    7. Albert says

      March 09, 2018 at 11:16 am

      Oh my goodness! this just sounds so incredible! love that you used kale in the pesto and added almonds to it, this is a MUST try!!!

      Reply
      • Amy says

        March 09, 2018 at 11:22 pm

        Thanks Albert!

        Reply

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