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1/8 c. low oil italian salad dressing or vinaigrette. Use one that has a good flavor to the vinegar. Trust me. 3 T. dry basil, rehydrated in 3 T of warm water 2 T. Fresh basil chopped, or 2 T of instant pesto or Basil in a tube. 2 T. chopped nuts, your choice, though pine nuts are best. A mix of 1.5 t pine nuts to remainder of almonds works almost as well. 1 t. garlic, or to taste. 1 c or more cooked chicken or pop boneless skinless chicken in a heat-proof bag and throw in the pasta water. skinny pasta. Spinach leaves Gratings of hard, dry cheese (I prefer Mizithra, but Parm and Romano are good, too.)
Mix the first 5 ingredients in a small bowl or saucepan until well incorporated. Feel free to grind the nuts if you have time and patience and a pestle.
Cook pasta, and if needed, chicken. If the chicken is pre-cooked, warm by preferred method. Line plates with fresh, baby spinach leaves. When pasta is al dente, drain, toss with sauce and chicken, turn out onto spinach (move quick, here; the idea is for the pasta to be hot enough to just slightly wilt the spinach) and top with gratings of cheese.
The vinegar gives the sauce a depth that we can't usually get with pesto in the US since our basil can be a little pallid. By all means, if you can get really good basil, don't ruin it with vinegar. Just use olive oil.
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