Best Fusilli With Pea Pesto And Smoked Mozzarella Recipes

Fusilli with Pesto and Green Beans image

Provided by Giada De Laurentiis

Time 15m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

Kosher salt
One 8-ounce package whole-grain or gluten-free fusilli pasta, such as Tru Roots
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 shallot, chopped
8 ounces green beans, trimmed and cut in 1-inch pieces
One 10-ounce bag frozen peas
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1/3 cup store-bought pesto
1/2 cup ricotta cheese, such as Calabro

Steps:

Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Sprinkle generously with salt. Add the pasta and cook 1 minute less than the package instructions, about 5 minutes. Drain well, reserving 1/3 cup of pasta water.
Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil and shallots with 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook for 1 minute. Add the green beans and another 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring often, until the beans are just cooked through, about 4 minutes. Stir in the peas and cook another minute to warm through. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet along with the reserved water. Top the bare pasta with the Parmesan and add the pesto. Toss well to coat. Dollop the ricotta over the top and serve.

Fusilli with Spicy Pesto image

Provided by Giada De Laurentiis

Categories main-dish

Time 54m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 cup chopped walnuts
2 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
1 (2-inch long) red or green jalapeno pepper, stemmed and coarsely chopped* see Cook's Note
2 cups grated (4 ounces) Asiago cheese
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 ounces baby spinach
3 ounces arugula
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound fusilli pasta
4 ounces Asiago cheese, shaved

Steps:

For the pesto: In a food processor, combine the walnuts, garlic, jalapeno, cheese, salt and pepper. Process until the mixture is smooth. Add the spinach and arugula and process until blended. With the machine running, gradually add the olive oil.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water. Place the cooked pasta and pesto in a large serving bowl. Toss well and thin out the sauce with a little pasta water, if needed.
Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Garnish with Asiago cheese shavings and serve.
*Cook's Note: For a milder pesto, remove the seeds from the jalapeno pepper.