Homemade pesto makes all the difference…especially when sweet peas get in on the act! My Sweet Pea Pesto Penne Rigate hits the spot!
What happens when you take basil out of pesto?
You add sweet peas, of course!
A short time ago I shared a recipe for Bruschetta with Sweet Pea Pesto, Prosciutto and Asparagus. It was my ‘first day of spring’ post and I was hoping that the kelly green of the pesto would take my mind off the perpetual gray skies just outside my window.
Did it work? Oh yes.
But better yet, I get to enjoy this sweet pea pesto pasta on days that are now sunny and warm. I actually need sunglasses for more than just a style statement 😉 and that’s saying something for living in a town whose population invests more in mittens and mufflers than Ray-Bans and flip-flops. (Does the word muffler date me? It does, doesn’t it? Does anyone say muffler anymore? Of course not, they say scarf. People say scarf. I say scarf. I’ve actually never used the word muffler before. I don’t even know where that came from. I might as well have said stole or tippet. Oh my.)
As these days become increasingly warmer it becomes increasingly rarer that I make a big pot of sauce and meatballs. I tend toward sauces and pestos on the lighter side.
This is one such sauce. And whether you use a food processor or a mortar and pestle – the result is always delicious.
The ingredients for this Sweet Pea Pesto Penne Rigate include:
- pasta
- sweet peas
- garlic
- toasted pine nuts (though you could use walnuts)
- Parmigiano-Reggiano
- olive oil
- salt & pepper
I’m willing to bet that you have most if not all of what you need for this supremely springy springtime dish. (I apologize for the alliteration. Sometimes I just can’t help myself.)
Here’s to sweet pea pesto, flip flops and sunglasses for as long as we can have ’em!
Buon Appetito!
A few more goodies worth checking out:
Spring Minestrone with Chicken Meatballs
And don’t forget to check out Ciao Chow Bambina on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook!
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Sweet Pea Pesto Penne Rigate
- Category: Dinner
- Cuisine: Italian
Description
Homemade pesto makes all the difference…especially when sweet peas get in on the act!
Ingredients
- 12 oz. frozen sweet peas
- 2 plump garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts
- 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- Salt & cracked black pepper, to taste
- 1 lb. penne rigate
Instructions
- Cook peas according to package directions.
- Place peas, minced garlic, toasted pine nuts, grated cheese, pinch of salt and pepper into the bowl of a food processor.
- Begin blending and while motor is running, slowly add olive oil until fully incorporated.
- Once done, set aside.
- Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente.
- Reserve 1/2 cup cooking liquid, then drain pasta.
- Return pasta to the pot and add pesto, stirring constantly until sauce is fully incorporated.
- Add cooking liquid if it seems dry.
- Serve with an extra bit of cracked black pepper.
- Enjoy!
CIAO!
Annie, this looks really easy and delicious.
It really doesn’t get much easier!! Thank you!
I am on such a pesto fling. I recently discovered chermoula, kind of a cilantro pesto. So, of course I’m gonna have to try this one out. I can’t imagine how this will fly without any strong tastes other than the garlic.But I can’t wait to see. The color is so spring-like. Wondering if I dare try it with the bagged fresh peas sold at Wegmans. Thanks for some spring!
It’s definitely one of the milder tasting pestos but it’s so springy fresh! Love it!
I have a bit of a pesto obsession, but I’ve never made it with peas! It sounds so good. And I don’t always have fresh basil on hand, so it’s nice to have an easy option like this!
I do too! I could eat it, everyday! Thanks, my friend!
Pesto is so versatile, Annie – love this spin on it. I’m a big sweet pea fan – look forward to them every spring – so I will definitely be trying this lovely green pesto. What a great fast and easy recipe – my favorite kind :)!
That’s the thing I love about pesto! It invites in so many flavors! Thanks, my friend! Enjoy!
sweet peas pesto? I definitely need to try this, sounds amazing Annie!
Thank you, Manali!
Cheers to pea pesto, flipflops, and sunglasses! I hope to have no use for a muffler or a stole for the foreseeable future. I’d much rather sit back in the sunshine eating this pasta!
You and me both, girlfriend! They’re predicting snow for us tomorrow!
Sweet peas pesto sounds like a genius idea. And this pesto penne rigate looks so vibrant. And those pretty flavors are making me hungry. Love how easy it is. This would make a perfect Spring meal.
For the punch of flavor that it provides, it’s pretty crazy how simple it is! Thank you, Anu!!
Welcoming this sweet pea pesto with open arms as the weather continues to get warmer! I’m the exact same way – once the sunny days are here to stay, I crave fresher-tasting pasta sauces instead of a big ol’ pot of Sunday sauce! This color is gorgeous – such a beautiful tribute to spring.
I truly could put pesto on everything! And who can resist the colors that it yields?! Thank you, my friend!
Nothing better than a creative mind in a kitchen with in-season produce. Have never thought of doing pesto with peas, but is genius if you ask me! well done my friend and thanks for sharing!
Why thank you, my friend! Give it a try – I think you’ll love it! 🙂
This is so fresh and springy! Sweet peas are so …. well sweet 🙂 . I can imagine eating this on the deck as Spring starts to really show itself and soak in all the flavors. Great pics to. Take care.
When I wrote this post it was an 85 degree day…I won’t tell you that I need a sweater and wool socks today…. So, yes! I too am counting the minutes until spring truly sticks! So happy you like it! Thanks, friend! 🙂
I love how versatile pesto is… and while I love peas, I’ve never made pea pesto! Thank you for this delicious inspiration! I can totally see this with meatballs – so good Annie!
Oh, I think you’ll love it, Traci! I love ’em all, but this is a special one! Thanks, dear!
Very vibrant and I know it tastes good from when I tried it in March:) Pesto is one of my favorite things to eat with meat..Since you mentioned meatballs.. OMG, I might make it again tonight with our grilled turkey meatballs. Once you break out the flip-flops it is official – it is pesto season:)
Oh yum! That’ll be a perfect combination of flavors!! So happy you tried it in March and liked it! Brava! Flip-flops = Pesto! Right on! Thank you, my friend!
I love pesto but I’ve never made it with peas. What a great idea! I’ll bet even my kids would eat this. Hello Spring!
Ooooh – I bet the kids would love this! Thank you, my friend! 🙂
Never ever thought to put sweet peas in a pesto. i am in love with this idea! Such a beautiful fresh spring flavour 🙂
Thank you so much! I think you’d love it! 🙂
So this is going to make me sound like a raggin’ idiot, but when you said mittens and mufflers I totally thought you were referring to gloves and car parts. lol. Clearly I’m very blonde. 😉 Anyways, I am swooning over this pretty green pasta, Annie!! I LOVE that you used peas in the pesto! How genius is that! I could use a few bowls of this and a nice glass of vino… while dinning al fresco! That just sounds perfect! Hope you are having a wonderful Monday, my dear! <3
That is a perfectly legitimate thought! Who knows – maybe my town thinks about car parts, too…actually – I’m sure we do with all the salt we use to keep the roads safe! This is a nice little dish for a Monday night, right? So glad you like!! Have a great day, Chey! <3
I actually say tippet. (OK, not really but I might start. It sounds very Emily Dickinson.) This is such a perfect spring recipe! And I’m craving your pesto like nothing else right now. As soon as my food processor is unpacked I’m going to whip up a batch. Have a great week, Annie!
Hahaha! I believed you…and I thought – I’m going to use tippet, too! 😉 Bet you can’t wait to get that food processor unpacked! You’ll be done before you know it! Thanks, friend! 🙂
Oh sweet pea pesto?! Love this, Annie! I’ve only made the basil pesto kind before, but I would love to experiment with different version. This is my kind of pasta!
It’s incredible how creative you can be with pesto… This is one of my favorites! Thanks, Gayle! Have a great day, my friend!
I can’t wait to make this one! I love the idea of pea pesto and pasta. Simple perfection right here 🙂
And who doesn’t love simple perfection?! Thank you, friend! 🙂
What a lovely supremely springy springtime dish 😉 No flip flops around here yet, but the mufflers (lol) are put away. It’s a bit cold here today, but the sun is shining so that’s a positive, right? This one is such a pretty dish and perfect for meatless Monday! I’ve never used peas in pesto before, but it’s such a great idea. I actually really enjoy frozen peas too. Pinning! Happy Monday, my friend! XOXO
You know what’s happening here? We go from summer weather to end of fall in the matter of hours…today is looking like it’s shaping up to be a perfect spring day! We’ll take it! Isn’t this color green a pretty one? Thanks, dear! Have a great week! XOXO
Such a fresh, springy recipe Annie! I’m always looking for easy recipes like this one for spring when I want to spend as much time outside enjoying the beautiful weather we’ve all been waiting for. Perfect with some crusty bread and a glass of wine. Happy Monday!
Exactly! We’re definitely ready for quick and tasty homemade meals that can be on the table in minutes as our days become warmer! Happy Monday, my friend!