Creamy Green Pea Pesto Pasta
Mint and peas are a natural pairing in this creamy pasta dish. It works well as a vegetarian main dish or can be divided into smaller portions as a side dish. If you have pine nuts on hand, sprinkle them over the top for a little crunch. If you like your pesto to be totally smooth, process it a little longer, scraping down the sides of the bowl as you go. Parmesan cheese grated fresh with a microplane grater will give you the best results.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces whole-wheat fusilli
- 1 ½ cups finely grated parmesan cheese, divided
- 3 teaspoons grated lemon zest, divided
- 2 cups frozen peas, thawed
- 1 ½ cups loosely packed fresh mint leaves
- 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon salt