Monday, February 7, 2011

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


38 comments:

  1. That's a very unique blend of ingredients, looks very yummy.

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  2. Yumm, makes me hungry...very creamy and rich looking dish..

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  3. wow, the pea and pistachio pesto sounds very interesting.


    FOODELICIOUS

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  4. What a tempting looking pasta ! Lovely color dear

    Deepa
    Hamaree Rasoi

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  5. Peas, pista and Cilantro.... a terrific pesto!! would definitely try!! Thanks for the recipe...

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  6. Creamy nd yummy...Great idea to bring Pea..pista n pasta together:-)

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  7. Delicious creamy pasta,loving the spinach egg side dish with this pasta too.

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  8. wow this is very very creamy and delicious very yummy too!

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  9. Am in love with your pesto..great flavors n colors..a must try :)

    US Masala

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  10. love the twist....looks yummy and creamy...
    delish!

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  11. lovely looking green pasta.... yummy...
    Reva

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  12. Nice green colourful pasta..very inventing...

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  13. oh my my looks so yum...delish :)

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  14. Sounds like a simple dish and I could foresee the taste..Hmm yummy it would be..I'll try with the pasta I've..Thanks for sharing Priya ..Thanks for ur valuable comment reg my blog make over

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  15. Hi Priya...this pesto looks really yumm...want to give it a try...I love pastas n.a pesto like this on top of it...would really add taste to the dish....Thanks for posting such a wonderful recipe...

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  16. This pasta sauce looks delicious. It has all the goodness.

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  17. So creamy and yummy.Looks delish.

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  18. Wow this pesto is so unique.. Will have to give it a try.. Thanks for sharing.
    http://bhalokhabo.blogspot.com

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  19. Yum! Interesting combo! Thanks for stopping by my blog Priya! Nice to meet you and yours :)

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  20. Creamy and delicious pasta dish!

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  21. A terrific pasta :)
    Hey i shared an award with u.. please follow this link :)
    http://tahemeemshaik.blogspot.com/2011/02/its-raining-awards.html

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  22. such a great combo for the pasta. love all the ingredients. thanks for sharing

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  23. First time here. Glad to follow you. My son loves pasta very much and found an amazing recipe to make for him. book marked.

    Radhika. http://ticklingpalates.blogspot.com

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  24. Looks fantastic ! First time here. u have a lovely space.Do drop by
    Padhuskitchen
    when u find time

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  25. wah! your preparation appears really nice.

    We tried pasta a week ago and it was an incident I could never forget. We were hungry and bought pasta.

    I kept it for cooking with water and once done, asked Arun to drain the water. He took the vessel near the wash basin and rotated it.. everything went inside the basin leaving few pastas in the vessel that we had to adjust with :(

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  26. Love all the flavors and your picture makes me so hungry :)

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  27. Innovative blend sounds very healthy' looks delish

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  28. Looks creamy greeny and yummy...
    Thanks for stopping by @ My culinary Trial room

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  29. Am not a big fan of Pasta!But love the colour of the dish! :)

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  30. looks amazing to me !!!

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  31. Pesto pasta dish looks so creamy and yummy.My daughter dotes on pasta and she will love this one,I particularly found the tip on saving the boiled water for adding it at a later point interesting.Never crossed my mind :)

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  32. delicious combination looks wonderful

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  33. Loved this one... i like the peas green pasta but never used pistachio with it.

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