Embark on a culinary journey to discover the tantalizing flavors of Vietnamese pesto pasta, a fusion dish that harmoniously blends the vibrant essence of Vietnamese cuisine with the classic Italian staple. This delectable dish showcases a symphony of textures and tastes, featuring tender pasta coated in a vibrant green pesto crafted from fresh herbs, aromatic spices, and roasted peanuts. Succulent shrimp, crisp vegetables, and a hint of zesty lime combine to create a delightful medley of flavors that dance on your palate. Prepare to be captivated by the harmonious union of East and West in this irresistible pasta dish, presented with three variations to suit your culinary preferences: a classic version, a vegetarian alternative, and a spicy rendition for those who crave a fiery kick.
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JUICY PESTO PASTA!
Recipe video above. This is how to make a great pesto pasta that's slick with pesto sauce without adding tons and tons of oil which makes it overly oily. The secret is using the pasta cooking water - it emulsifies with the oil in the pesto which makes it cling to every strand of pasta. A technique used in every Italian household! Make this with homemade pesto for the best flavour.
Provided by Nagi
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of water to the boil with the salt.
- Add pasta and cook for the length of time per the packet.
- Just before draining, scoop out 1 cup of of the pasta cooking water.
- Drain pasta in a colander, leave it for a minute.
- Transfer pasta to a bowl (do not use pasta cooking pot, too hot).
- Add pesto and 1/4 cup of pasta water. Toss to coat pasta in pesto, adding more water if required to make pasta silky and saucy, rather than dry and sticky.
- Taste, add more salt and pepper if desired.
- Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parmesan.
PESTO
Homemade pesto always makes a thoughtful hostess gift. Mix things up with this cilantro variation. It's delicious served with pasta or in one of these recipes using pesto. -Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Provided by Taste of Home
Time 10m
Yield 3/4 cup.
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- In a food processor, puree all ingredients. Refrigerate for several weeks or freeze in a tightly covered container. Toss a few tablespoons pesto with hot cooked pasta.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 97 calories, Fat 10g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 3mg cholesterol, Sodium 114mg sodium, Carbohydrate 1g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 2g protein.
PASTA WITH CHOPPED PESTO AND PEAS
This pesto doesn't call for a food processor, blender, or mortar and pestle - and it's better for it. Instead, all of the elements are chopped and mashed together by hand. (Pesto means "to pound, crush or smash" in Italian.) In Tuscany, this would be done with a half moon-shaped mezzaluna, but a chef's knife does the job, too. The result is a more textured mix with bright pops of flavor, like a sauce, herb salad and nut garnish in one. Basil and pine nuts are classic choices, but this version, "I Dream of Dinner (So You Don't Have To)," by Ali Slagle (Clarkson Potter, 2022), was guided by the pesto ratio in "Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat" by Samin Nosrat. It works with whatever soft herbs and nuts that you like and have on hand.
Provided by Ali Slagle
Categories weekday, pastas, main course
Time 30m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. In a small or medium skillet over medium, toast nuts, shaking the skillet occasionally until browned (try one to see), 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board to cool.
- As the nuts cool, into a large bowl, grate the Parmesan on the small holes of a box grater (or pulse chunks in a blender).
- Add the garlic clove and a pinch of salt to the pile of nuts and coarsely chop the nuts and garlic together. Add a handful of the herbs and another pinch of salt, and coarsely chop. (Opt for forceful, purposeful chops as opposed to soft, timid ones.) Toss and smash the mixture every few chops. Repeat with the remaining herbs, salting at each step, until a wet, coarse paste forms. Stir into the cheese, then stir in the olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente. In the last 3 minutes of cooking, add the peas to the pasta. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain. Add the pasta and peas to the pesto and stir to combine. Add pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce. Season to taste with salt, pepper, more oil and more Parmesan.
Tips:
- Use a high-quality olive oil for the pesto. This will make a big difference in the flavor of the sauce.
- If you don't have a food processor, you can make the pesto by hand. Just finely chop the basil, mint, cilantro, and peanuts in a bowl.
- Add a little bit of chili pepper to the pesto for a spicy kick.
- Use any type of pasta you like for this recipe. Short pastas like penne or rotini work well, as do longer pastas like spaghetti or linguine.
- Garnish the pasta with fresh herbs, such as basil, mint, or cilantro, before serving.
Conclusion:
This pasta with Vietnamese pesto is a delicious and easy-to-make meal that is perfect for a weeknight dinner. The pesto is flavorful and aromatic, and it pairs perfectly with the cooked pasta. This dish is also a great way to incorporate more vegetables into your diet. Serve it with a side of grilled chicken or tofu for a complete meal.
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