Chicken & White Bean Pesto Pasta
Let’s start by stating the obvious- yes, pesto is green! And yes, I know green foods are a no-go with some kids. BUT, pesto can be served with so many “kid approved” foods like pasta and chicken that I think this meal has a high chance of passing the toddler test at your house (because it did at my house!)
Here’s the deal, my 4-year-old is my adventurous eater. She always has been. I can pretty much count on her to eat anything I put on her plate (except peppers—and her name is Pepper!) But the girl will eat anything under the sun from sardines, to broccoli, to spicy Mexican food, to sushi, beef liver and beyond. She understands the importance of protein with her meals and is putting together what makes a snack or meal healthy for her body. It’s really awesome to see this all come together. My 1 1/2 year-old is a different story. She is definitely pickier about what she puts into her mouth and is less willing to try new things. I still hold strong in my conviction to not serve her separate meals or foods just because she’s picky. As a family we eat the same meals and foods together though they may look a little different on each plate. For my 1 1/2 year-old I’ll typically de-construct her plate so she can have an honest look at each individual food item in her meal. This is actually our gateway into her eating more foods on her plate. Some days are easier than others but I believe it’s going to pay off in the long run (and I’m a long run kind of thinker!)
This meal started off deconstructed for my littlest one but after she ate her plate she crawled onto my lap and ate straight from my bowl. All the foods mixed together and all! Major milestone!
This meal is loaded with animal and plant protein, tons of fiber and healthy fats. The nutritional benefits of the basil (in the pesto) are superior in that basil has components that can help stave off chronic diseases like cancer and diabetes and is packed with anti-inflammatory compounds. This meal is definitely going on rotation this summer at our farm and is a good reminder to make extra pesto for the freezer so we can enjoy this all year long!
I hope you and your family enjoy this as much as we did!
Chicken & White Bean Pesto Pasta
PREP TIME: 20 minutes COOK TIME: 20 minutes SERVES: 6
Pesto:
1/2 cup walnuts
1 large clove of garlic, peeled
2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
3/4 cup olive oil
fat pinch of salt
splash of red wine vinegar or lemon juice
Pasta:
1 pound chicken breast
8 ounces pasta of choice (we used a chickpea pasta for added protein)
1 can of white beans (any variety) rinsed and drained (I like the Jovial brand of beans because they come in glass jars)
freshly grated parmesan cheese for serving
Preparation
Prepare the pesto by combining all the ingredients in a food processor and processing until smooth. Taste for seasonings and adjust as needed.
Cook the chicken breast in a pot of salted boiling water until cooked through. About 10 minutes. When cool enough to handle chop or shred it.
Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain the pasta reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid.
Toss the pasta noodles with half of the pesto, chicken, and white beans. Add more pesto as needed to coat everything. If needed add a splash of the reserved pasta water to really “sauce” up the sauce!
Serve with freshly grated parmesan cheese and enjoy!
