Cilantro-Pea-Pista Pasta

Partly inspired by Forever summers with Nigella, this pasta was literally Go Green ! The Pesto Sauce saw a combination of boiled peas with cilantro, pistachios and garlic. Don't remember what type of pasta Nigella used, i had shell shaped pasta that blended perfectly fine with the sauce. I made a few alterations to her recipe in terms of availability of the ingredients and this easy to cook dish had my daughter asking for more !

Here's How:-

• Shell shaped Pasta - 250 gm (u can use any other type)
• Fresh peas - 2 cups
• Cilantro leaves- a small bunch
• Pistachios - 1/2 cup
• Garlic Cloves - 3 to 4
• Grated Cheese (parmesan preferably)  - 1/2 cup - to taste
• Olive Oil - 3 to 4 tbsp
• Salt- to taste
• Pepper - to taste

Method:-

Set aside a cup of peas and boil the remaining peas for a few minutes till it becomes tender. Pulse it  together with the cilantro leaves  pista, garlic & cheese using little water.Add salt & pepper as well as the olive oil to blend them and set aside.

The Pesto Sauce:-

Cook Pasta as per instructions on the pack and add peas to the water just before it is done. Let it simmer for a while. Save a cup of the pasta water before draining the cooked pasta/peas. The starchy water is perfect for blending the cooked pasta with the sauce.

Now toss the pasta-pea mix with adequate pesto sauce. Add the pasta water if it becomes too dry.Toss everything well before adding parmesan cheese.

Serve Hot !

I served the Pasta with a Spinach-Egg Sidedish