Spinach & Toasted Pumpkin Seed Pesto Pasta

Ingredients

• •2 large chicken breast halves
• •juice of lemon
• •3 tbsp cooking fat
• •salt
• •3 cups baby spinach
• •lemon zest
• •⅓ cups olive oil
• •3 scallions
• •2 cloves garlic
• •1 cup pumpkin seeds
• •3 tbsp parsley
• •1 lbs colorful pasta
• •½ tbsp coarse salt
• •3 shavings of parmesan into each bowl at serving

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Method

From foodista.com — read the original

1. 1Start by boiling water for pasta in a large pot.
2. 2Add some salt and olive oil to prevent pasta from sticking. When water is boiling, add pasta, stir, reduce heat to medium and cook until ready (9-12 minutes, depending on pasta type).
3. 3Drain an set aside.
4. 4While pasta is cooking, prepare the rest of the components simultaneously.
5. 5Start by heating the cooking fat in a skillet over medium heat.
6. 6Sprinkle chicken breast halves with salt, pepper and dry oregano all over.
7. 7Place chicken in heated oil and cook on both sides for a short time (1 minute each).
8. 8Add juice of 1 lemon to the skillet, reduce heat to medium/low and continue cooking, turning occasionally, until done (about 10 - 12 minutes). Set aside.
9. 9If toasting pumpkin seeds, put 1/2 tbsp of coarse salt in a small (preferably cast iron) skillet over medium heat.
10. 10Add pumpkin seeds. Toast seeds for a few minutes, stirring or shaking frequently, until they start to crack and turn golden. Turn off the heat and leave pumpkin seeds in the skillet until cool.
11. 11When move seeds away from salt before using them. It won't be hard, because they are lighter than coarse salt. Discard the salt.
12. 12Now you are ready to prepare pesto.
13. 13Reserve 1-2 tbsp of pumpkin seeds for garnish.
14. 14Put the remaining pumpkin seeds and the rest of the pesto ingredients in a processor and hit pulse a few times at first, allowing everything to settle.
15. 15Now turn the processor on and see if pesto is thin enough (consistency of pancake batter). If not, add a little more olive oil and/or lemon juice as you work the pesto.
16. 16Slice or dice cooked chicken breasts.
17. 17Assemble your dish in serving bowls: pasta, chicken, pesto, pumpkin seed sprinkle and shaved or grated parmesan.
18. 18Now inhale deeply and try to say Spinach & Pumpkin Seed Pesto Chicken Pasta Bowl three times in a row fast. That's it!