Ina Garten Pasta Pesto And Peas Recipe
This Ina Garten Pasta Pesto and Peas Recipe is a winner. It is very fresh, creamy, and easy to make.
Ingredients
- 1 pound fusilli or bow tie pasta.
- 1 1/2 cups frozen peas thawed.
- 1/4 cup good olive oil.
- 2 cups packed fresh basil leaves.
- 3 tablespoons toasted pine nuts.
- 2 teaspoons chopped garlic.
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt.
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.
- 1/2 cup good mayonnaise.
- 1/2 cup sour cream.
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese.
- 1 cup fresh baby spinach leaves.
Instructions
Boil the Pasta
- Fill a large pot with salty water. Bring the water to a fast boil. Add the pasta and cook for ten minutes.
Prepare the Peas
- Put the thawed peas in a large bowl. You do not need to cook them much. The hot pasta will warm them up.
Make the Pesto
- Put basil, pine nuts, and garlic in a processor. Pulse them until they are chopped very fine. Add the olive oil slowly while mixing.
Add the Cream
- Add the mayonnaise and sour cream to pesto. Mix in the Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Pulse until the sauce is very creamy.
Chop the Spinach
- Finely chop the fresh baby spinach leaves. Spinach keeps the green color very bright. Add it to the creamy pesto sauce.
Drain the Pasta
- Drain the pasta well in a colander. Do not rinse the pasta with cold water. Hot pasta absorbs the sauce much better.
Toss it Together
- Pour the hot pasta over the green peas. Add the creamy pesto sauce to the bowl. Toss everything together until it is well coated.
Serve and Garnish
- Transfer the pasta to a large serving bowl. Sprinkle a little extra Parmesan on the top. Serve it warm or at room temperature!
Notes
- Use fusilli pasta to hold the green sauce.
- Always use fresh basil for the best smell.
- Toast the pine nuts for a deeper flavor.
- Spinach helps the sauce stay a bright green.
- Do not overcook the pasta in the water.
- Pasta should be firm to the bite (al dente).
- Use a good quality mayonnaise for the base.
- Sour cream adds a nice and tangy kick.
- Thaw the peas completely before adding to pasta.
- Add a squeeze of lemon for extra brightness.