Okay: first order of business.
How cute is this campanelle pasta?
I always see bloggers with awesome pasta and decided to get out of the spaghetti/linguine/penne/rotini rut. (Linguini I love you forever never forget that).
This Spinach Almond Pesto Pasta is some seriously delicious stuff. The pesto is runnier than I normally make it, which means that every ounce of pasta is coated in nutty goodness. This pesto is packed full of garlic flavor and totally a crowd-pleaser.
I normally make pesto with spinach and walnuts, but when the lovely people at Blue Diamond sent me these Oven Roasted Sea Salt Almonds, I knew pesto was happening. And boy, was that the right decision.
These almonds are perfect for pesto for two main reasons: one, the overall effect is spicier and more earthy. Pine nuts are a smoother taste and I love the edge that almonds bring to pesto. And secondly, the fact that these almonds are already lightly salted and low sodium means that you barely need to add salt to the pesto, keeping the sodium really low.
I’m all about these win-wins.
Now normally I could ramble forever, but I just finished three (!!) bowls of this pasta and two slices of a dessert that is on the way (shh) and so I’m in a major food coma. Bottom line: make this. Peace out.
Please note: A huge thank you to Blue Diamond Almonds for sending me the Sea Salt Almonds used in this post. This post is sponsored by Blue Diamond Almonds, but all expressed opinions on Whisk & Shout as well as affiliate social media pages are my own.
- 16 oz campanelle (gigli) pasta
- 2 cups baby spinach, washed
- 4 cloves garlic
- ⅓ cup almonds (I used Blue Diamond Oven Roasted Sea Salt Almonds)
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- squeeze lemon
- salt to taste
- Cook your pasta according to the package instructions and set aside.
- Put your garlic cloves (whole) in the bowl of a food processor and chop until minced.
- Add almonds and grind until well combined.
- Add spinach and pulse until mixed.
- Add olive oil, lemon, and salt, and pulse until homogenous.
- Pour pesto over pasta and serve.
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Oh that pasta sure is cute! And it sounds delicious covered in homemade pesto. Nothing beats pasta pesto!
You’re so right!
Oh this dish is so creative, Medha! I’m such a fan of pesto and I’m loving the spinach and garlic in here. And what a fantastic idea to add in almonds! Looks amazing!
Thanks!
I LOVE homemade pesto, but I haven’t strayed away from the staple pine nuts yet to explore what almond pesto would taste like – def trying that asap! And I just adore campanelle pasta! I use it all the time and it’s on of my favs. Really holds sauce well. Great recipe!
It was my first time with almonds and I loved it! And campanelle is just the best with runny pesto 🙂
Oh wow! Pasta looks so vibrant and delicious ! Loved that homemade pesto. YUM!
Thanks, Anu!
the pasta, the pesto, the almonds, I love it all!!!! this is seriously something I could eat everyday!!! love!
It’s super addictive for sure!
Everything about this dish shouts my name! I love the twist on the usual basil pesto. 😀
Thanks 🙂
That pesto looks good enough to drink. I can see why you ate three bowls-haha!
Yeahhh and I finished the rest today… oops?
I use the same pasta shapes over and over too – I need to branch out! This dish looks wonderful!
Thanks!
YUM! I am a sucker for pesto!
Me tooo!
This pasta looks so yummy!! I love pesto of all kinds. It’s so good on everything!!
Agreed!
The pasta looks super delicious Medha!
Thanks so much!
Simply damn delicious and hearthwarming pasta…
You have got that right!
Those pasta shells are so adorable! Love that you paired them with a spinach almond pesto! It looks fantastic!
Thanks 🙂
Blue Diamond Almonds are the best, and Dry Roast Sea Salt is classic – by far my favorite variety! Interesting spin on classic pesto.
They’re so ridiculously delicious! I’ve been snacking on the leftovers shh 🙂
Campanelle is a favorite. It’s just so much fun to eat!
So, HUGE fan of almond over here. And I’m sure it makes the best pesto! Now I gotta add that to my try-it list. Fantastic!
It’s incredible! It really exceeded all my expectations and I think I’ll stick to almonds over pine or walnuts now!
I love adding spinach to my pesto for added nutrition and deliciousness!! this looks great!
Thanks, Joanne!
I have a huge crush on campanelle pasta – I have all these other lonely boxes in the pantry, but campanelle is just so pretty and perfect for holding the sauce – and this pesto looks scrumptious!
It’s definitely about to become a staple in my house 🙂
Love this, and that beautiful color! Sounds delicious! 🙂
It totally was!
Hi Medha, first time here and I am hooked. You write so well.
This pasta reminds me of tulips, so beautiful. Pesto pasta is all time fav 🙂
Thank you for stopping by!
This pasta looks so yummy Medha! I love the campanelle, and the garlicy pesto looks positively delicious. What a great way of incorporating the almonds – yum!
Thank you!
That past is cute! This garlicky almond spinach past is so creative and looks fantastic!
Thanks 🙂
This pasta looks delicious! I absolutely love a simple go-to pasta dish like this!!
Me too 🙂
Pesto with almonds sounds amazing! And, yes, I love the non-traditional pasta shapes—I snatch them up at the market whenever I spot them 🙂 Lovely dish!!!
Thanks so much! 🙂
This pasta looks amazing! I love how you make pasta healthier for you! Perfect for a pasta lover like me!
Thank you!
Mmm … always love pesto. This is a bit unusual with the almonds, and I love that cute shaped pasta! Somehow the shape of the pasta does matter, doesn’t it? 😉
Thanks! And yeah, give me pasta in ANY form, thanks 🙂
Wow! I’ve never heard of campanelle pasta. I’m gonna have to check that out. I love your “earthy” take on pesto with the almonds. YUM!
Almonds are so good in this pesto 🙂
Your pesto looks so vibrant and delicious! I love different shapes of pasta that really hold the sauce or pesto. This is a fun one for sure. I always have almonds here at home as we eat them on everything from oatmeal in the morning to snacks at night. Pinning!
Thanks for the pin!
Haha, pasta is definitely more fun to eat when it is in neat shapes like this!! This pesto looks so vibrant and green and delicious! I’ve never used almonds in my pesto before, but I love almonds so I need to try this soon 🙂
I made this pesto again today! (SO good)
I love the simple flavors in this dish – so delicious! And, yes, campanelle is adorable!
Thanks! 🙂
Great idea to make pesto with almonds. Lately I’ve been snacking on almonds a lot and I feel like I can’t get enough of them. The pesto is a must try!
Thanks! LMK if you try 🙂
Me & pesto…. we have that special kind of relationship. Amazing dish, love the simplicity of it. 🙂
Pesto is the best. Hands down.
Love this idea for a pesto!
Thank you!
This was delicious and so easy to make, thank you for using ingredients that are not so expensive!
thanks for sharing!