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Fresh pea pesto pasta in a white serving bowl with a spoon

Pea Pesto Pasta

Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Pea Peasto Fusilli, Pea Pesto
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 145kcal
This Pea Pesto Pasta is so easy to make, and is so delicious, and also is so healthy, how can you find anything wrong with it?  Go with frozen sweet peas for this easy pasta salad and you won't believe the wonderful taste.  
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Ingredients

  • 10 oz. package frozen peas
  • 3 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1/2 tsp Kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup pine nuts (even better when they are lightly toasted)
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated (plus additional for garnish)
  • 1 tsp lemon zest
  • 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 1 lb fusilli, dried

Instructions

  • Cook peas according the package directions, then drain.  Set aside.
  • Using the back of a fork, mash the garlic with the salt until a rough paste forms.
  • Add the peas, pine nuts, cheese, garlic paste, lemon zest and 1/2 teaspoon pepper into the bowl of a food processor.  Pulse a few times until finely chopped (you may need to scrape the sides down with a spatula, and pulse again).
  • With the motor running, carefully pour in the oil until well incorporated.
  • Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large pot of well-salted water until al dente (or according to package instructions).  Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta into a colander.
  • In a medium-size bowl, whisk the pesto with enough of the reserved pasta water to thin to the consistency of tomato sauce.
  • Toss the pesto with the pasta and thin with more pasta water, if desired.
  • Season with a pinch more salt and pepper and garnish with extra grated Parmesan cheese.

Nutrition

Calories: 145kcal