Three Vegetable Penne with Tarragon-Basil Pesto

Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray

Show: 30 Minute MealsEpisode: No Meat, No Worries

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (57)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(57)

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

1 pound penne rigate (with lines) pasta
Salt
1/2 pound asparagus, trimmed of tough ends
1 small zucchini
1/4 pound, haricots verts (thin green beans) trimmed of stem ends
1/4 cup pine nuts
1 cup basil, 20 leaves
1/2 cup tarragon leaves from 10 to 12 stems
Handful flat-leaf parsley
1 lemon, zested
1 clove garlic
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, plus more to pass at table
Coarsely ground black pepper
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, eyeball it

Directions

Heat a large pot of water to boil for pasta. Salt the water and add pasta to cook to al dente or, with a bite to it. Cut asparagus spears into 2-inch pieces on an angle. Cut zucchini into matchstick shapes. Cut haricots verts or green beans into 2-inch pieces on an angle. Add vegetables to pasta after penne has been cooking about 5 minutes. Cook veggies and pasta together 2 minutes.

While pasta cooks, toast pine nuts in a small pan until golden, then cool. Place nuts, basil, tarragon, parsley, lemon zest, garlic, cheese and a little salt and pepper in a food processor. Turn the processor on and stream in the extra-virgin olive oil until thick sauce forms.

Scrape pesto into large, shallow serving dish. Add a ladle of hot, starchy pasta water to the pesto. Drain penne and veggies and add immediately to pesto. Toss to coat pasta and vegetables evenly. Adjust salt and pepper, to taste. Serve with extra grated cheese to pass at table.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Three Vegetable Penne with Tarragon-Basil Pesto
courtney goshen, KY 09-30-2009
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Fantastic lemony flavor
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I was a bit unsure about boiling the vegetables since I do not like soggy veggies, but it ended up fantastic. The pesto,... once combined with the pasta and veggies was so great. It had this great lemon undertone. Will definitely make it often with whatever fresh veggies are on hand.Read more
recipe Three Vegetable Penne with Tarragon-Basil Pesto
candace Midland, MI 07-15-2009
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Excellent with variations!!!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I made this recipe but I varied the veggie ingredients. I sauteed some mushrooms, onion, and asparagus in a little olive oil... and butter. Then added canned artichoke hearts and diced up some roasted red peppers, added them at the last few minutes to the sautee pan, just to heat it up. I used store bought pesto (to save on time, and I don't have a food processor!). I added everything to the cooked whole wheat noodles, tossed and topped with grilled chicken (had the chicken grilling outside while the noodles were boiling!) and it was FANTASTIC! Rachel always offers amazing basics that I find easy to change/modify! Will be making this dish regularly.Read more
recipe Three Vegetable Penne with Tarragon-Basil Pesto
Ana Brooklyn , NY 06-21-2009
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People who use jarred pesto...
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Why comment on the recipe when you didn't do it? "Jarred Pesto" is not what the recipe called for. You must as well cook... macaroni and cheese from a box and call yourself a chef! The ACTUAL recipe was great, and very easy to make!Read more
recipe Three Vegetable Penne with Tarragon-Basil Pesto
Kelly Rochester, NY 04-21-2009
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He liked it!
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

I just got through busy season at work and promised my boyfriend that once I wasn't so busy I would start cooking us home... made meals on a regular basis. Last night was the first meal I made and I picked this recipe... it turned out great!! He really liked it and it is very healthy for you with all the veggies and without a fattening sauce like most italian dishes. I will definitely make this again, maybe with some grilled chicken :)Read more
recipe Three Vegetable Penne with Tarragon-Basil Pesto
Diane Flossmoor, IL 04-19-2009
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It's a keeper!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I made this without the tarragon, simply because I don't like it and it was wonderful. It had a fresh taste and was a nice... change from the usual pasta with red or white sauce. Read more
recipe Three Vegetable Penne with Tarragon-Basil Pesto
D Saint Louis, MO 04-04-2009
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Really great!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

My pesto-loving boyfriend says, "Extremely fresh!" So I take it that it's important to use fresh ingredients. It was so... yummy. I love Rachel Ray! I bet leftovers are going to be great. Oh and I didn't have a food processor so I used one of the Tupperware manual chopper things... it worked.Read more