Linguine with Crema di Noci

Ingredients

• 8 ounces uncooked linguine
• 1/2 cup walnut halves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled and halved
• 1/2 cup 2% reduced-fat milk
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup grated fresh Romano cheese

Preparation

1. 1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. 2. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat.
3. 3. While pasta cooks, place walnuts in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 8 minutes or until toasted. Place 1/3 cup hot walnuts, salt, and garlic in a food processor; process until nuts are finely ground. Microwave milk at HIGH 1 minute or until hot. Add hot milk to food processor; process until smooth. Chop remaining walnuts.
4. 4. Drain pasta, reserving 1/4 cup pasta water. Combine pasta, walnut cream, chopped walnuts, and pepper in a bowl; toss to coat. If necessary, add reserved pasta water, 1 tablespoon at a time, to thin walnut cream. Sprinkle with Romano cheese. Serve immediately.
5. Crema di noci (KREH-mah dee NOH-chee) means "cream of walnut." Toasted walnuts are puréed into butter as a base for this pasta sauce.