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The Tiny Italian

Pasta, Gnocchi & Polenta / Recipes / Vegetarian

A delicious celery leaf pesto, chard and chickpea pasta

I love celery leaves. They are magnificent. They can be cooked in so many ways. Perfect to flavour soups and stews,; add to salads; it’s a fabulous alternative to parsley. But a celery leaf pesto is just a great alternative to its Genovese basil sauce friend.

Have you ever smelt a large bouquet of celery with its bush of leaves on top? They have a strong aroma and bitter taste but combined with oily nuts and salty parmesan it’s a great combination of flavours. It’s a fantastic alternative to the sweet leaf basil which has become one of the nations favourite pasta sauces.

The bitterness of the celrey leaves, is combined with the sweeter chard alongside earthy chickpeas to balance out the flavous. Plus the lemon zest at the end really brightens it. A relatively quick and simple pasta recipe to add to your mid-week dinners. It’s full of goodness, packed with a heap of flavour and has lots of different textures to enjoy. Go on, give this celery leaf pesto recipe ago with this fabulous vegetarian pasta dish. You won’t regret it.

Would love to know what you guys think. Comment below or email paola@thetinyitalain.com

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Celery leaf pesto chard and chickpea pasta (serves 2/3)

  • 30g celery leaves, without the stem

  • 10g pine nuts

  • 10g toasted flaked almonds

  • 2 garlic clove, peeled ( 1 whole, 1 finely sliced)

  • 100ml extra virgin olive oil

  • 2 tbsp grated parmesan

  • Olive oil

  • 2 shallots, finely sliced

  • 1 celery stalk, finely chopped

  • 1 tin (400g) of chickpeas , drained

  • 200g chard, leaves and stalks separated.

  • 250g pasta (tagliatelli or linguine)

  • Lemon

  • Sea salt

If you would like to watch the full recipe video, head here to my youtube channel. Don’t forget to subscribe.

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Steps

  • First, make the pesto. In a food processor, add the pine nuts, almonds, 1 whole garlic clove and celery leaves. Pulse it until everything is roughly chopped up. Not too fine.
  • Next pour in the 100ml extra virgin olive oil while pulsing to make sure that the sauce is emulsified together.
  • Then pour the sauce into a bowl. Add the parmesan. Stir well and taste. Season with salt as needed. Set aside.
  • Next, drizzle 2 tbsp of olive oil into a large frying pan. On a low heat, fry the sliced garlic, shallot and celery. Add a pinch of salt. Cook for 5 minutes until the vegetables have softened.
  • Next add the chickpeas, and chard stalks. Give it a stir and cover the pan with a lid and cook for 5 minutes
  • In the meantime, bring a pan of water to the boil, season it with plenty of salt and cook your pasta as instructed on the packet.
  • Collect some starchy pasta water with a mug, 2 minutes before the pasta has finished cooking. Then add the chard leaves to the pan with 2 tbsp of pasta water. Cover the pan again with the lid.
  • When the pasta has cooked, drain, and add to the chickpea and chard. Give it a good stir. Remove off the heat.
  • Finally, pour the celery pesto on top and stir everything together until the pasta is well coated in the sauce and vegetables. Serve with grated lemon zest. Serve immediately.

Tips

  1. It’s important to pulse and not continually blitz the ingredients. Blitzing will create heat and impact the flavour of your ingredients.
  2. Make sure you pour in the olive oil in slowly to help emulsify all the ingredients together rather than pour it in all one go.
  3. Makes sure you add parmesan in before seasoning it. Parmesan is already salty so you may not need much salt. Rock salt is better here rather than fine salt as it’s milder in flavour.
  4. Make sure you add a pinch of salt to the vegetables to help draw out any excess water and help give the ingredients more flavour.
  5. No tip
  6. Make sure the pan is seasoned with plenty of salt to help flavour the pasta. Dip a teaspoon into the water and taste. It must be as salty as the sea. It’s approximately 6g of salt to 1 litre of water.
  7. The pasta water will not only help cook the chard leaves but will emulsify with the flavoured olive oil to create a light silky sauce
  8. No tip
  9. Add some pasta water to the pesto to loosen it up (if needed) and help coat the pasta.
TAGS:celery leaf pestocelery pestochardchickpeaschickpeas pastapasta recipevegetarian pastavegetarian recipe
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The Tiny Italian

Ciao, I’m Paola I’m Paola (The Tiny Italian). I'm an Italian food expert cook and teacher. I teach people to not only cook but teach them how to LOVE TO COOK. I help change peoples mindset by showing them that cooking is not only for 'FOODIES' and sharing the fun, stress-free side with recipes, tips and cooking experiences.

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Ciao, I’m Paola
Ciao, I’m Paola

Ciao, I’m Paola

I’m Paola (The Tiny Italian). I'm an Italian food expert, cook and teacher. Cooking doesn't come easy to everyone. However, I help you LEARN to LOVE to cook and eat better with EASY SEXY HEALTHY Italian RECIPES. Plus TIPS and HACKS to build your kitchen CONFIDENCE. Come cook with me at one of my fun stress free cooking classes or courses. It’s all about helping others BELIEVE IN THEIR OWN SAUCE!

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ITS HERE! THE ONLY PASTA DISH YOU’RE GOING TO WANT TO ENJOY THIS SUMMER.

A no-cook pasta, jam packed with flavour. 
A summer tomato tuna Riccioli using the best pasta @garofalopastauk and a wealth of quality store cupboard ingredients.
If you’re a lover of fusilli, move over as we have a new pasta shape Riccioli (curly) to get to grips with. It’s curves and crevices are perfect to collect all the wonderful ingredients in this dish.
Available from @ocadouk and @amazonuk. 

For the full recipe head to the link in my bio. 

#garofalo #summerpasta #pastasalad #easypasta #pastalover.
thetinyitalian
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ITS HERE! THE ONLY PASTA DISH YOU’RE GOING TO WANT TO ENJOY THIS SUMMER. A no-cook pasta, jam packed with flavour. A summer tomato tuna Riccioli using the best pasta @garofalopastauk and a wealth of quality store cupboard ingredients. If you’re a lover of fusilli, move over as we have a new pasta shape Riccioli (curly) to get to grips with. It’s curves and crevices are perfect to collect all the wonderful ingredients in this dish. Available from @ocadouk and @amazonuk. For the full recipe head to the link in my bio. #garofalo #summerpasta #pastasalad #easypasta #pastalover.
1 month ago
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BELIEVE IN YOUR OWN SAUCE is the only mantra you need right now if it feels like you may be struggling to feel your best. It’s not always easy to believe in your self but remember you can always get there will some love and self care.
Recently you may have read about how I had some struggles with my mental health. I’ve had so many life changes recently that my head couldn’t cope with it and was sending me down a weird spiral.

However with few changes, including making my self care number one priority, I’m  back on the mend and feel happier than I have in weeks. And when I think of this saying it reminds me of who I am and what I can be. And I want to tell you all. You can be as happy as you want to be, you can live a better life if that’s what you want and you can be as saucy as you like. 
Just don’t forget about yourself, needs or happiness. It can be the smallest thing but it can all make a difference.
Just always believe in your own sauce 💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻
Paola x
thetinyitalian
thetinyitalian
•
Follow
BELIEVE IN YOUR OWN SAUCE is the only mantra you need right now if it feels like you may be struggling to feel your best. It’s not always easy to believe in your self but remember you can always get there will some love and self care. Recently you may have read about how I had some struggles with my mental health. I’ve had so many life changes recently that my head couldn’t cope with it and was sending me down a weird spiral. However with few changes, including making my self care number one priority, I’m back on the mend and feel happier than I have in weeks. And when I think of this saying it reminds me of who I am and what I can be. And I want to tell you all. You can be as happy as you want to be, you can live a better life if that’s what you want and you can be as saucy as you like. Just don’t forget about yourself, needs or happiness. It can be the smallest thing but it can all make a difference. Just always believe in your own sauce 💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻 Paola x
1 month ago
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@thetinyitalian

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ITS HERE! THE ONLY PASTA DISH YOU’RE GOING TO WANT TO ENJOY THIS SUMMER.

A no-cook pasta, jam packed with flavour. 
A summer tomato tuna Riccioli using the best pasta @garofalopastauk and a wealth of quality store cupboard ingredients.
If you’re a lover of fusilli, move over as we have a new pasta shape Riccioli (curly) to get to grips with. It’s curves and crevices are perfect to collect all the wonderful ingredients in this dish.
Available from @ocadouk and @amazonuk. 

For the full recipe head to the link in my bio. 

#garofalo #summerpasta #pastasalad #easypasta #pastalover.
thetinyitalian
thetinyitalian
•
Follow
ITS HERE! THE ONLY PASTA DISH YOU’RE GOING TO WANT TO ENJOY THIS SUMMER. A no-cook pasta, jam packed with flavour. A summer tomato tuna Riccioli using the best pasta @garofalopastauk and a wealth of quality store cupboard ingredients. If you’re a lover of fusilli, move over as we have a new pasta shape Riccioli (curly) to get to grips with. It’s curves and crevices are perfect to collect all the wonderful ingredients in this dish. Available from @ocadouk and @amazonuk. For the full recipe head to the link in my bio. #garofalo #summerpasta #pastasalad #easypasta #pastalover.
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
1/5
BELIEVE IN YOUR OWN SAUCE is the only mantra you need right now if it feels like you may be struggling to feel your best. It’s not always easy to believe in your self but remember you can always get there will some love and self care.
Recently you may have read about how I had some struggles with my mental health. I’ve had so many life changes recently that my head couldn’t cope with it and was sending me down a weird spiral.

However with few changes, including making my self care number one priority, I’m  back on the mend and feel happier than I have in weeks. And when I think of this saying it reminds me of who I am and what I can be. And I want to tell you all. You can be as happy as you want to be, you can live a better life if that’s what you want and you can be as saucy as you like. 
Just don’t forget about yourself, needs or happiness. It can be the smallest thing but it can all make a difference.
Just always believe in your own sauce 💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻
Paola x
thetinyitalian
thetinyitalian
•
Follow
BELIEVE IN YOUR OWN SAUCE is the only mantra you need right now if it feels like you may be struggling to feel your best. It’s not always easy to believe in your self but remember you can always get there will some love and self care. Recently you may have read about how I had some struggles with my mental health. I’ve had so many life changes recently that my head couldn’t cope with it and was sending me down a weird spiral. However with few changes, including making my self care number one priority, I’m back on the mend and feel happier than I have in weeks. And when I think of this saying it reminds me of who I am and what I can be. And I want to tell you all. You can be as happy as you want to be, you can live a better life if that’s what you want and you can be as saucy as you like. Just don’t forget about yourself, needs or happiness. It can be the smallest thing but it can all make a difference. Just always believe in your own sauce 💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻 Paola x
1 month ago
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THE ONLY PASTA SALAD YOU WILL WANT TO EAT THIS SUMMER. 
Flavourful, super easy to recreate and full of goodness. What’s not to like, right?

Still a couple of days until the recipe video is revealed but in the meantime I thought I would share with you the shopping list along with where to get this amazing Riccioli @garofalopastauk pasta shape which you can order online @amazonuk or @ocadouk. 

🍽Serves 2/3 people 

🍝 250g @garofalopastauk pasta
🍅 400g cherry tomatoes on the vine.
🧄 1 garlic clove
🍃 Fresh basil
🐟 160g good-quality tinned tuna (in olive oil)
🫒 80g black kalamata olives
🌿2 tbsp capers
🍋 Lemon
🍶Extra-virgin olive oil
🧂Sea salt + black pepper

Perfect for dinner or wonderfully served up as a pasta salad for some alfresco dining. It involves no cooking however to make this dish extra special it’s all about using the best quality ingredients you can get your hands on. 
Remember it’s all about cooking food that makes you feel good. ❤️ We are all worth it. 

#pastasalad #summerpasta #eatbetterfeelbetter
thetinyitalian
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THE ONLY PASTA SALAD YOU WILL WANT TO EAT THIS SUMMER. Flavourful, super easy to recreate and full of goodness. What’s not to like, right? Still a couple of days until the recipe video is revealed but in the meantime I thought I would share with you the shopping list along with where to get this amazing Riccioli @garofalopastauk pasta shape which you can order online @amazonuk or @ocadouk. 🍽Serves 2/3 people 🍝 250g @garofalopastauk pasta 🍅 400g cherry tomatoes on the vine. 🧄 1 garlic clove 🍃 Fresh basil 🐟 160g good-quality tinned tuna (in olive oil) 🫒 80g black kalamata olives 🌿2 tbsp capers 🍋 Lemon 🍶Extra-virgin olive oil 🧂Sea salt + black pepper Perfect for dinner or wonderfully served up as a pasta salad for some alfresco dining. It involves no cooking however to make this dish extra special it’s all about using the best quality ingredients you can get your hands on. Remember it’s all about cooking food that makes you feel good. ❤️ We are all worth it. #pastasalad #summerpasta #eatbetterfeelbetter
1 month ago
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3/5
In my newsletter last week, I discussed how as humans it’s easier to convince ourselves to not do that ‘thing’ that will make us feel better.
For example, 
- to stay in bed rather than get up to do some exercise which will give you the energy to get your work done.
- order a takeaway rather than cook a dinner which will make you feel 💯 better.
- scroll on your phone for 15 mins rather then have  a lovely cup of tea in peace.
It happens so often in our lives we probably don’t notice it. But due to our busy lifestyles it sometimes feels easier to not do anything “EXTRA”. 

But let me ask you, why does everything else take precedent over “US” and our self-care.

Why is it that what we really need to make us feel good, isn’t as important. 
Why do we focus on how hard those actions will be rather than focus on how that EFFORT will make us feel so good after.

The truth is if we don’t take care of ourselves than we will never feel our best to take on everyday or live our best lives. It’s as simple as that and I recently learnt that the hard way.

 I wish this was something I was taught from an early age rather than thinking life was about working and making money. 

This is a topic I constantly discuss with my Saucy Society cooking members. The importance of enjoying your love of food at home by cooking dishes that will make you feel good and give you so much pleasure. That’s correct. Cooking can be self-care and not just that chore you want to avoid. 

If you’re someone who could benefit from making better food decisions, get help with cooking motivation and would love to transform your cooking relationship to develop a delicious healthy self-care habit. 
The Saucy Society is what you’re looking for. 
The best self-care online cooking community on the planet. 

More info? Link in bio. 

#eatbetterfeelbetter #selfcareroutine #goodfoodgoodmood
thetinyitalian
thetinyitalian
•
Follow
In my newsletter last week, I discussed how as humans it’s easier to convince ourselves to not do that ‘thing’ that will make us feel better. For example, - to stay in bed rather than get up to do some exercise which will give you the energy to get your work done. - order a takeaway rather than cook a dinner which will make you feel 💯 better. - scroll on your phone for 15 mins rather then have a lovely cup of tea in peace. It happens so often in our lives we probably don’t notice it. But due to our busy lifestyles it sometimes feels easier to not do anything “EXTRA”. But let me ask you, why does everything else take precedent over “US” and our self-care. Why is it that what we really need to make us feel good, isn’t as important. Why do we focus on how hard those actions will be rather than focus on how that EFFORT will make us feel so good after. The truth is if we don’t take care of ourselves than we will never feel our best to take on everyday or live our best lives. It’s as simple as that and I recently learnt that the hard way. I wish this was something I was taught from an early age rather than thinking life was about working and making money. This is a topic I constantly discuss with my Saucy Society cooking members. The importance of enjoying your love of food at home by cooking dishes that will make you feel good and give you so much pleasure. That’s correct. Cooking can be self-care and not just that chore you want to avoid. If you’re someone who could benefit from making better food decisions, get help with cooking motivation and would love to transform your cooking relationship to develop a delicious healthy self-care habit. The Saucy Society is what you’re looking for. The best self-care online cooking community on the planet. More info? Link in bio. #eatbetterfeelbetter #selfcareroutine #goodfoodgoodmood
1 month ago
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4/5
Tonight, C4, 8pm. New show. One question with @claudiawinkle 
If you’re in tonight make sure you watch it xxx 
Such a fun thing to do before my bestie @marie_davies1 moved to NYC. Find out what happens tonight x
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Tonight, C4, 8pm. New show. One question with @claudiawinkle If you’re in tonight make sure you watch it xxx Such a fun thing to do before my bestie @marie_davies1 moved to NYC. Find out what happens tonight x
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
5/5
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