Spaghetti with Walnuts

Spaghetti with walnuts are a simple and tasty dish that combines pasta with the richness of the flavor of walnuts. Here’s how to prepare this dish:

Ingredients

• 400 g spaghetti
• 200 g walnuts
• 1 garlic clove
• 100 g cooking cream
• grated Parmesan cheese to taste
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste (optional)

Preparation

1. Start by lightly toasting the walnuts in a dry pan for 2-3 minutes. Then finely chop them with a food processor or with a mortar.
2. In a large pan, heat a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and sauté the garlic clove until it turns golden, then remove it.
3. Add the chopped walnuts to the oil and let them toast for a few minutes, being careful not to burn them.
4. Pour the cream into the pan with the walnuts, mix well and let cook for 3-4 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly. Adjust the salt and, if you prefer, add a pinch of pepper.
5. Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti in plenty of salted water following the times indicated on the package to have them al dente.
6. Drain the spaghetti and add them directly to the walnut sauce, mixing well to flavor them.
7. Serve immediately with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan on each plate.

Trivia

In northern Italy, especially in Liguria, spaghetti with walnuts are a classic. The walnut sauce, or “salsa di noci”, is a traditional recipe that often also includes stale bread soaked in milk and Parmesan or pecorino to make the sauce even creamier. It is a dish that pairs well with light and aromatic white wines.

Enjoy!