Fresh Pea Pesto and Ditalini

People don't eat enough ditalini. I think people think of it as a sort of kid's pasta, and it really is entertaining, but everybody deserves some dinnertime entertainment, not just little kids. Sticking with the theme of little kid pasta, there's the pea.  I'm pretty sure every kid in America had a childhood filled with buttered noodles with peas mixed in. Except, it's hard to mix a pea with pasta, so it ended up being a plate of buttered noodles with a bunch of peas sitting on the bottom. While this dish was in no way my inspiration for pursuing fine food, it did inspire on fine pasta dish.

Pesto is probably the most versatile sauce/dressing/spread/dip in the entire world. You can make it with any number of herbs, veggies, oils and seasonings. Fresh pea pesto has to be one of my all time favorites though. It's bright green color, nutty undertones, and occasional bursts of garlic against the sweetness of the pas really makes this stand out. And, this entire dish was ready in less time than it takes to unload the dishwasher and set the table!

Ditalini with Fresh Pea Pesto
Serves 4

6 oz ditalini pasta
2 cups fresh peas (you can use thawed frozen, just don't blanch them)
1/3 cup whole almonds, toasted in a dry pan for 5 minuted over medium heat
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
1/4 cup fresh Thai basil
Salt and Pepper to taste
1/4 cup Reggiano Parmigiano


Bring a 4 quart pot of salted water to a boil. Quickly blanch peas in the water for 2 minutes, remove, and shock in an ice water bath. When the water is boiled, add pasta to water and stir occasionally, cooking for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove 1 cup of pasta water from the pot before draining pasta.
While the pasta is boiling, heat the olive oil and garlic over medium-low heat, to infuse the oil with the garlic. After infusing the oil for 10 to fifteen minutes, remove from the heat.
Put the almonds, basil, peas, garlic and oil in a blender and blend until almost smooth. Add pasta water as needed to thin to desired consistency.
When the pesto is smooth, mix in the cheese, salt and pepper to taste.
Pour over the drained pasta and serve.

Even Buddy Likes It!

He actually loved it, and licked the empty bowl clean:)