Pasta, Pesto, and Peas

Ina Garten

Copyright 2001, Ina Garten, All Rights Reserved

Show: Barefoot ContessaEpisode: Pasta Bella

Picture of Pasta, Pesto, and Peas Recipe 3 Videos | Photo: Pasta, Pesto, and Peas Recipe
Rated 5 stars out of 5
  • Rate This Recipe
  • Read 174 Reviews
Total Time:
32 min
Prep
20 min
Cook
12 min
Yield:
12 servings
Level:
Easy
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Ingredients

  • 3/4 pound fusilli pasta
  • 3/4 pound bow tie pasta
  • 1/4 cup good olive oil
  • 1 1/2 cups pesto (packaged or see recipe below)
  • 1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, defrosted and squeezed dry
  • 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 1/4 cups good mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
  • 1 1/2 cups frozen peas, defrosted
  • 1/3 cup pignoli (pine nuts)
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Cook the fusilli and bow ties separately in a large pot of boiling salted water for 10 to 12 minutes until each pasta is al dente. Drain and toss into a bowl with the olive oil. Cool to room temperature.

In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade, puree the pesto, spinach, and lemon juice. Add the mayonnaise and puree. Add the pesto mixture to the cooled pasta and then add the Parmesan, peas, pignoli, salt, and pepper. Mix well, season to taste, and serve at room temperature.

Pesto:

  • 1/4 cup walnuts
  • 1/4 cup pignoli (pine nuts)
  • 3 tablespoons chopped garlic (9 cloves)
  • 5 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 1/2 cups good olive oil
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan

Place the walnuts, pignoli, and garlic in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Process for 15 seconds. Add the basil leaves, salt, and pepper. With the processor running, slowly pour the olive oil into the bowl through the feed tube and process until the pesto is thoroughly pureed. Add the Parmesan and puree for a minute. Use right away or store the pesto in the refrigerator or freezer with a thin film of olive oil on top.

Notes: Air is the enemy of pesto. For freezing, pack it in containers with a film of oil or plastic wrap directly on top with the air pressed out.

To clean basil, remove the leaves, swirl them in a bowl of water, and then spin them very dry in a salad spinner. Store them in a closed plastic bag with a slightly damp paper towel. As long as the leaves are dry they will stay green for several days.

Yield: 4 cups

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Wine Suggestion for This Recipe

Pinot Grigio

Pinot Grigio

Citrusy, light white wine

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Newest Ratings and Reviews

Read all 174 reviews

  • on February 06, 2012

    Flag

    I ate this at a Super Bowl party last night, and holy mackerel! it was the best pesto pasta I've ever had! The peas and pinenuts really set it apart!

    people found this review Helpful.
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  • on January 05, 2012

    Flag

    While the pesto recipe tastes good, it is far too oily.

    people found this review Helpful.
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  • on November 29, 2011

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    Excellent pasta dish, beats any pasta salad I ever had hands down. Over the years, after eating a few variations of your run-of-the-mill pasta salad I was not impressed and could not find anything worth repeating so I've never made it myself...unitl now. Thank you Ina, once again, for a wonderful recipe.

    people found this review Helpful.
    Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No

Next Recipe

Pasta, Pesto, and Peas

Pasta, Pesto, and Peas

By: Ina Garten
Rated 5 stars out of 5
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