Chickpea & Spelt Fresh Pasta with Homemade Pesto Sauce

Carbs have a bad reputation but not all carbs are created equal. Whole grains, vegetables, fruits, beans … are all fundamental and not an optional part of your eating plan. Carbohydrates are the first and main source of energy for your body and your brain, without it, your ability to think and learn will be impaired and the protein from your muscles will be used to fuel your body. Don’t be scared of carbs, just be smart about your choices. Instead of going for the high-processed and low-fiber kind, choose whole grains and less-processed carbs, which are healthier, more nutritious and satisfying.

This chickpea and spelt fresh pasta is a great example of a healthier alternative to regular white pasta. It only has 3 ingredients, so it’s very easy to make, and because it’s made with an egg, a whole grain and a legume it’s very rich not just in carbs but also in protein and fiber and is a great source of several essential nutrients, including iron and B-vitamins. If you don’t have a pasta machine, you can still make fresh pasta at home, just roll the dough as thin as possible with the help of a rolling pin and then cut it lengthwise into thin strips using a pizza cutter.

Chickpea & Spelt Fresh Pasta with Homemade Pesto Sauce Recipe

Prep Time: 45 min | Cook Time: 3 min | Serves: 1

Ingredients

+ 2/3 cup (75g) whole spelt flour
+ 1/4 cup (25g) chickpea flour
+ 1 egg
+ 1 tbsp homemade basil walnut pesto sauce
+ 5-6 cherry tomatoes, cut into quarters
+ 1-2 walnuts, chopped
+ fresh basil leaves, for serving

Directions

Place the flours in a bowl, add the egg and mix with your fingers until everything is well combined. Knead the dough into a firm ball, cover with saran wrap and let rest on the countertop for about 30 minutes. In the meanwhile, make the pesto sauce and chop the remaining toppings.
Dust your work surface with spelt flour and roll out the dough using a rolling pin. If using a pasta machine, roll the dough through the machine 5 or 6 times, working it through all the settings on the machine, from the widest down to around the narrowest. Once the dough is smooth and thin, boil up some salted water, cut the pasta and let cook in boiling water for about 90-seconds to 2 minutes.
Serve with homemade pesto sauce, cherry tomatoes, chopped walnuts and basil leaves. Enjoy!

Amount per serving