Sweet Pea Pesto

Sweet Pea Pesto

New Media Publishing / Photography: Flat Art Studios.com / Stylist: Abigail Donnelly

Provided by: Melissa Roberts

15 mins total 15 mins prep Full Screen

Servings

Pesto is a staple in my house and I make vats of it at the end of the summer. But there are some good prepared ones out there and it's so versatile. It not only marries well with pasta but is also great with fish, steamed vegetables, or stirred into a vegetable soup. I'm not a big advocate of hiding veggies in dishes, but the addition of peas adds a touch of sweetness that balances well with the savoriness of pesto

Ingredients

• 1 pound whole wheat penne rigate or rotini
• 1 (10 oz) package frozen peas
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup prepared basil pesto
• Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano for serving

Directions

• Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling well salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 1/2 cups pasta-cooking water, then drain pasta in a colander.
• Meanwhile, cook peas on the stove or in a microwave according to package directions, then drain. Transfer peas with butter to a food processor and pulse to a chunky purée. Add pesto and ¼ cup pasta cooking water and process until smooth.
• Return pasta to pot along with pesto and ¾ cup pasta cooking water and toss over low heat to coat. Thin with additional pasta cooking water if desired. Season to taste with freshly ground pepper and salt if necessary.

• Filed under:
• Pasta,
• Vegetable,
• Pea,
• Italian,
• Easy,
• 30 Minute,
• Quick,
• Vegetarian,
• Kid-Friendly,
• Healthy,
• Main Dish,
• Side Dish,
• Spring,
• Entertaining

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Comments

[anwrose]

07:20 PM on 02/22/2012

I made this recipe as written last night. It's "ok". Next time, (yes, I'll make it again) I'm halving the peas and adding 1/4 more of the basil pesto sauce and 1/4 cup or so of pine nuts into the pre-food processor mix. It was good, but it needed a bigger 'flavor punch" for me. The peas to pesto ratio is too high for my tastes. The basil pesto is the best part of this dish (to me anyway), so it was a bit diluted. Even my hubby, who likes basil pesto, but in small doses said it was "weak". I was trying to incorporate more green into our diet via the peas, so I will adjust by adding more flavor. Thanks for the recipe.

[Louis Riehl]

08:09 PM on 02/21/2012

This sounds good I wish it contained the neutritional values per serving.