Pasta Salad with Herb Pesto and Peas
August 2006
Makes: 8 servings
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 15 mins
- Salt
- 1 pound tricolor short curly pasta or campanelle (I mix the two)
- 1/4cup pine nuts (a generous handful)
- 1/2cup flat-leaf parsley (a couple of generous handfuls)
- 20 - 25 fresh basil leaves (about 1 cup)
- 6 sprigs of fresh tarragon, leaves stripped from stems
- 1/2cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (a couple of handfuls)
- 1 garlic clove, peeled
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1/3- 1/2cup extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), eyeball it
- Freshly ground pepper
- 1 10 ouncebox frozen peas, thawed
- 1/2 red bell pepper, finely chopped
- 4 small celery ribs from the heart, finely chopped with their greens
- 4 scallions, thinly sliced at an angle
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt the water, add the pasta and cook until al dente.
- Toast the pine nuts in a small skillet over low heat, shaking the pan occasionally, until golden, about 3 minutes; let cool.
- In a food processor, pulse to chop the toasted pine nuts, parsley, basil, tarragon, cheese, garlic and lemon juice. Turn on the processor and stream in 1/3 cup of the EVOO. Process until a thick pesto forms; add the remaining EVOO if needed. Season to taste with salt and pepper and pulse again to incorporate.
- Place the pesto in a large, shallow serving dish. Add the peas and red bell pepper. When the pasta is almost cooked, add a ladle of its starchy cooking water to the pesto and mix. Drain the pasta well. Stir the celery and scallions into the sauce, add the pasta and toss to coat. Adjust the seasonings to taste.
Tip
PAIR WITH:
- Mud House Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2005 (New Zealand)