Pesto Pea Salad

Show: Barefoot ContessaEpisode: Frozen Treats

Rated: 4 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (43)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(43)

Cook Time:
7 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
4 servings

Times:

Prep: 15 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 7 min
Total:: 22 min

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Ingredients

2 cups of frozen peas
2 tablespoons pignolis, toasted (see note)
2 1/2 cups baby spinach leaves
4 tablespoons pesto, recipe follows

Directions

Cook the peas in a pot of boiling salted water for 1 minute. Immediately immerse the peas in a bowl of ice cold water, and drain when fully cooled.

To assemble, place the spinach leaves in a salad bowl. Sprinkle the peas and pignolis over the spinach. Add the pesto and toss.

Note: To toast pignolis, place them in a dry saute pan and cook over medium heat for about 4 minutes, until evenly browned, tossing frequently.

Pesto:

1/4 cup walnuts

1/4 cup pignolis

3 tablespoons diced garlic (9 cloves)

5 cups fresh basil leaves, packed

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1 1/2 cups good olive oil

1 cup freshly grated Parmesan

Place the walnuts, pignolis, and garlic in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Process for 30 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 finely pureed. Add the Parmesan and puree for a minute. Serve, or store the pesto in the refrigerator or freezer with a thin film of olive oil on top.

Yield: 4 cups

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Pesto Pea Salad
Dana Seattle, WA 11-17-2009
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Love the pesto & cant eat pasta - this is perfect!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

My husband asks for this ALL THE TIME. this is a simple and brilliant salad that is so rich and yummy and takes no time to... make the pesto with a food processor. Doesn't keep - but we don't usually have to worry about leftovers anyway. We are a gluten intolerant family and cant eat pasta so it is great to have another wonderful way to enjoy pesto. Thank you Ina!Read more
recipe Pesto Pea Salad
JORDAN manhattan beach, CA 10-16-2009
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Easy and delicious!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I made this salad for a potluck we do for the concerts on the beach during the summer. It was such a hit, people are still... talking about it. So delicious and easy to put together!Read more
recipe Pesto Pea Salad
Christy portsmouth, RI 08-09-2009
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Suprisingly Very Good!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I made this salad for a big luncheon. I was kind of skeptical because it didn't seem like it was going to be that great. Plus... there are many mixed reviews, but everyone really loved it! Several people requested the recipe and it turned out to be a big hit! The pesto was so delicious and it really went well with the peas and spinach. You absolutely have to make it fresh. It really is simple and easy to make and I ended up making extra to use on chicken later in the week. I made the pesto the day before and warmed it slightly before tossing it with the peas and spinach. Yummy!Read more
recipe Pesto Pea Salad
William Indianapolis, IN 06-24-2009
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Underwhelming
Rated: 2 stars out of 5

I was very disappointed in this salad. It was so-so. It should be called Spinach Salad with Peas and Pesto.
recipe Pesto Pea Salad
Laura Atlanta, GA 06-12-2008
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Fresh & Beautiful
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This is delicious! I will never use store bought pesto again.
recipe Pesto Pea Salad
Anonymous 06-09-2008
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love the pesto
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

To anyone who didnt like it its probably because u didnt make the pesto correctly!! it was delicious and i used the pesto for... other dishes! im running out of the pesto time to make more! A must try recipe!Read more