Pasta with pistachio pesto and lemon
August 3, 2010 • Category: Main Dish
It is pistachio season and the stores are carrying big bins of fresh pistachios; if you have never had fresh pistachios, I urge you to check your local middle-eastern store to see if they are available; the taste of fresh pistachios is so superior to the old roasted and salty ones, you will wonder how you will be able to go back to them once their season is over.
I made a pesto using pistachios and lemons and tossed it with pasta; we are experiencing a heat wave here, so light is in order.
INGREDIENTS:
• 1 cup of pistachios
• olive oil as needed
• pasta
• salt, pepper, as needed
• juice of half a lemon, as needed
• rind of half a lemon
• half a pound of pasta, preferably fresh
METHOD:
1) Cook pasta in plenty of salted water with a bay leaf or any other spices and drain; coat in olive oil.
2) In a food processor place all the pistachios, a good amount of olive oil, some fresh lemon juice and the rind of a lemon and process until the pistachios are reduced to a paste.
3) Mix the paste with enough olive oil until it is more soupy; mix with the pasta, adjust the salt and pepper and serve.
Comments
37 Comments • Comments Feed
Rosa says:
A lovely pasta dish! That combination is heavenly.
Cheers,
Rosa
On August 3, 2010 at 1:04 pm
Lentil Breakdown says:
Oooh, pastachio! Joumana, your comments link does not show up for yesterday’s post.
On August 3, 2010 at 1:24 pm
fimère says:
un pesto aux pistaches ça doit être pas mal à tester prochainement merci pour la recette
bonne soirée
On August 3, 2010 at 1:31 pm
Devaki says:
Oh so wonderful Joumana – I NEVER would have thought to mix pistachios with lemon and pasta. Everyday I am grateful that you continue to enlighten me with you posts 🙂
Ciao, Devaki @ weavethousandflavors
On August 3, 2010 at 2:15 pm
grace says:
pistachio pesto sounds amazing, and not just because it’s alliterative. 🙂
On August 3, 2010 at 3:06 pm
Adelina says:
I love pistachios, specially fresh. Never used them in dishes since I can’t help but eat them just the way they are. I should though.
On August 3, 2010 at 3:14 pm
Amanda says:
This looks light and delicious! All your recipes are so creative. I will try this soon.
On August 3, 2010 at 3:26 pm
Mimi says:
Nothing like fresh ingredients to make a simple and tasty dish.
Mimi
On August 3, 2010 at 3:44 pm
Nadji says:
Je n’ai jamais vu de pistaches fraiches.
Je poserai la question à mon “oriental”.
Ca doit avoir un goût très spécial un pesto aux pistaches.
Je vais rêver de la saveur.
Désolée pour les pertes humaines dans le sud du Liban.
A bientôt.
On August 3, 2010 at 3:52 pm
Susan says:
Sadly, I’ve never had a fresh pistachio but I do love the roasted ones. This sounds like a wonderful, light recipe and I can only imagine how good the fresh pistachios taste in the pesto!
On August 3, 2010 at 4:45 pm
Katie @Cozydelicious says:
I’ve never had fresh pistachios, I’m excited to go hunt for them. This pesto sounds so lovely!
On August 3, 2010 at 6:45 pm
Joan Nova says:
I’ve never had fresh pistachios but I sure would love to give them a try in a dish like this.
On August 3, 2010 at 7:06 pm
Magic of Spice says:
That looks so fresh and wonderful…I adore pistachios and I love the way you have used them in this dish:)
On August 3, 2010 at 7:55 pm
tigerfish says:
I have made pistachio pesto before and I love it. But definitely no luxury of getting the fresh pistachios.
On August 3, 2010 at 10:03 pm
Sushma Mallya says:
wow beautiful clicks, so tempting that pasta looks…
On August 3, 2010 at 10:32 pm
elra says:
I never really seen the fresh burgundy pistachio before, I’ve seen the green one though. It’s so beautiful Joumana, thanks for that photo.
Anyway,
pistachios pesto sounds just amazing.
On August 3, 2010 at 11:17 pm
Magdalena says:
where I will get those fresh pistachios here ? Nowhere ! I believe that they must be outstanding and have nothing to do with those dried ones (although I like them, too). Fantastic pesto !
On August 4, 2010 at 12:10 am
john@heneedsfood says:
I have seen fresh pistachio’s in markets before and wondered how they were used. Looks delicious!
On August 4, 2010 at 1:31 am
Koek! says:
I love food like this – original, simple, clean flavours… Thanks a for another exceptional recipe!
Robyn
On August 4, 2010 at 1:42 am
peanutts says:
wow, first time seeing such fresh pistachios.
On August 4, 2010 at 2:09 am
Pauline says:
Thanks for this vegan pesto idea. I buy pistachios shelled and vacuum packed, neither salted nor roasted, but not super-fresh either. I’m going to Paris for a couple of days, mostly shopping for “exotic” foods, so I’ll drop into Les Délices d’Orient and see if I can find these. Will report back if successful !
On August 4, 2010 at 5:43 am
Oui, Chef says:
YUM…the kids have been getting on me to teach them how to make fresh pasta, and I’m thinking that this is the dish that we’ll use our fettucini in. Probably can’t find fresh pistachios, but I do have a resource for raw, shelled, unsalted ones that will work. – S
On August 4, 2010 at 6:27 am
Bria @ WestofPersia says:
Joumana, this sounds and looks awesome. I’m totally on the lookout now for fresh pistachios. You’re right, they are such a treat. Btw, if you grow an avocado tree there, please keep me posted. I’d be avocado green with envy 😉
On August 4, 2010 at 8:32 am
Camille says:
I had no idea fresh pistachios were ever sold or eaten! I’ve seen fresh almonds before, but that’s it. What a lovely, summery pasta dish!
On August 4, 2010 at 10:51 am
Jean says:
I don’t think I’ve had a fresh pistachio before. I love the ones I get at the store so I trust that I’d enjoy these even more. They’re also my nut of choice for pestos and your version here really highlights the freshness of the pistachios. Thanks for sharing.
On August 4, 2010 at 3:41 pm
Kerstin says:
I’ve never had fresh pistachios and I’m so intrigued now! Love this pesto idea – it sounds fabulous!
On August 4, 2010 at 9:12 pm
Anna Johnston says:
So true. Nothing like fresh pistachios, you can do so much with them too.
On August 5, 2010 at 2:17 am
TastyTrix says:
I must check out fresh pistachios! I had such a reaction when I was finally able to have fresh chickpeas – it can’t compare. So I’m really looking forward to tasting it!
On August 5, 2010 at 6:02 am
Pauline says:
Me again – I have the fresh pistachios, and a question. After removing the soft outer husk, some of the nuts are peeking open and some are shut tight. Is there a way to encourage them to open: boiling water, or the oven…?
On August 5, 2010 at 2:52 pm
Joumana says:
@Pauline: good question! I used a nutcracker! If you find a better way, let’s share!
On August 7, 2010 at 9:44 am
Grapefruit says:
I don’t think I’ve ever had a fresh pistachio but this combination of flavors sounds intriguing and wonderful!
On August 5, 2010 at 4:20 pm
Mary says:
I’ve never had fresh pistachios, but there is a nut store around the corner, so I’m going tomorrow to have a look. Your pasta and pistachio pesto looks fantastic!
On August 5, 2010 at 5:18 pm
Faith says:
Pistachios are one of my favorite nuts! I can imagine the lovely flavor they bring to a pesto dish!
On August 5, 2010 at 5:34 pm
FOODESSA says:
Joumana…I’m always concocting different pestos and they are all wonderful and rarely turn out the same. I have yet to try it with pistachios. Since I love these nuts so much…I can truly see how I’ll incorporate this lovely lemony pesto on my next pasta dish. Great recipe ;o))
Ciao for now,
Claudia
On August 6, 2010 at 4:29 pm
A Canadian Foodie says:
All I can say is : Let me at my kitchen!!!! YUM!!!!!!
On August 7, 2010 at 7:42 am
OysterCulture says:
This dish just sounds incredible, love the idea of a pistachio pesto and all the lovely flavors. Amazing!
On August 7, 2010 at 12:15 pm
Deana says:
I made this! Couldn’t wait for summer to get hold of fresh pistachios, so I made it with the regular ones. I just added a clove of garlic to the pesto, I hope you don’t mind 🙂
It was supremely delicious and we all loved it. Even my daughter who is extremely picky, to say the least.
On January 25, 2011 at 3:49 am