Pasta is remarkably versatile; it is amazing how much you can do with some flour and eggs. This is another of my favourite pasta recipes. Pesto on fresh, homemade pasta is one of the most perfect comfort foods, and it is really quite simple to make your own (both – the pasta and the pesto). It may seem tricky at first but the more you make it the easier it becomes. Go on, try it, you won’t be disappointed. Once you try making your own you’ll never go back to shop-bought. To make seaweed pasta add a tablespoon of coarsely ground dried seaweed before adding the eggs when making your pasta dough. Continue as usual.
I usually make this recipe with plain pasta and pesto. I used to make it with ordinary halloumi and fresh chillies, but then I discovered the magic that is fiery halloumi with chillies. Bliss! I still use the fresh chillies as well – you can never have too many chillies, no?
Today I thought I’d try something a little different and add some seaweed to both the pasta and the pesto. Seaweed contains a multitude of trace minerals and other nutrients and with a whole list of health benefits, it surely can’t hurt to regularly add some to your diet.
It worked!
I even dished some up for my friend and her eldest son, who both scoffed with enthusiasm. Her son, aged 8, remarked to his mother, “Mam! She takes photos of her food! Mam, this pasta is delicious!”
- fresh seaweed farfalle
- 4 heaped tbsp seaweed pesto
- 225 grams fiery halloumi with chilli, sliced into 1/4 inch thick slices
- 1 large red chilli, finely sliced
- baby red chard leaves, to serve
Prep time: Cook time: Total time: Yield: Serves 4
Making homemade pasta is a fantastic way to get children involved in cooking. Mine love turning the handle of the pasta machine and helping to pinch the centre of the dough to make little pasta butterflies. The youngest is quite content rolling and re-rolling the scrap end bits.
If you’re inspired by this recipe you might also like the halloumi burrito recipe from my friend Claire over at Foodie Quine!
Seaweed Pesto
The last time I used my pasta machine the kids put their play dough through it!! Full of blue gunge now. I love the sound of the chilli halloumi – never seen it though.
Haha! Kids! I can get fiery halloumi with chillies in the cheese section of my local Tesco.
Can I come and live with you please – you keep cooking all of my favourite foods. This sounds like pure heaven, I love Halloumi, I’ve never eaten properly homemade pasta, but I can imagine it and I am enthused by the thought of adding seaweed. Often add it to soups and stews, but this sounds much more exciting. As for the chillies, I’m with you.
Oh you simply must try homemade pasta! It’s miles better than even shop bought fresh pasta. Thanks for your positive comment 🙂
I adore Halloumi, this looks so good. I have never made my own pasta, but you are making me feel that I should have a try. I did laugh at the comment ‘Mam, she takes photos of her food’ us food bloggers have to train our friends and families not to eat till we have taken photos!
I’m a big fan of halloumi too. There’s just something splendid about it’s squeaky texture. I find the plain supermarket halloumi isn’t as good as it used to be, but this fiery chilli stuff… whoa! You really should give making your own pasta a go – it’s fiddly the first couple times but then it just clicks and it’s a breeze. My children find my obsession with food photography amusing – my youngest will often refuse to eat until I’ve taken a photo of his dinner plate!
That looks amazing! Thanks for linking up to #PastaPlease 🙂
Thanks 🙂 Thank you for hosting #PastaPlease!
It looks really wonderful Elizabeth. I would love this dish. In fact I would love it right now!
I’m glad you like the look of it – it tastes fabulous too! I thoroughly enjoyed every bite after the obligatory photo shoot!