I love the changing of seasons and the culinary markers for each, currently Spring Asparagus and leaves of tender baby Kale. Bright, new green colors shooting up from the soil inspiring new recipes to be tried & shared.
Pesto using fresh chopped asparagus spears, tender kale leaves, lime juice, garlic, pistachios, olive oil and Parmigiano Reggiano? Why not! New season, new dish.
I tossed this deeply flavorful concoction with hot Bucatini pasta, chopped grape tomatoes and shreds of Parm. Simple, fresh, Spring.
Do you ever use Bucatini? I prefer it to regular spaghetti noodles. Bucatini is a bit larger and has a teeny-tiny hole running through each strand…look closely at the photo below and you may can see the hole…for the pasta sauce to soak into giving it more flavor and sauce for every bite. I get Bucatini and most of my pastas from Lazzaroli Pasta located on 5th Avenue North here in Nashville. If you have not been there treat yourself to an outing to Tom Lazzaro’s wonderful little homemade pasta and Italian grocery store. It is small in size but mighty in deliciousness.
Hello Spring & Bon Appetit Y’all.
Hello Spring Pesto with Asparagus & Kale tossed with Bucatini Pasta
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. fresh tender Asparagus spears, trimmed, rinsed & patted dry & chopped
- 1/2 cup shelled Pistachios
- 2 handfuls of baby Kale, rinsed & patted dry
- 1-2 garlic cloves
- Juice of one Lime
- 1/2 to 1 cup shredded Parmigiano Reggiano
- Olive oil
- Sea Salt and freshly ground Black Pepper
- 1 lb Bucatini pasta noodles
- chopped grape or cherry tomatoes
Directions:
- Add chopped asparagus spears and pistachios to a food processor and pulse until roughly chopped.
- Add kale and garlic and pulse several times to make a finer chop but still rough.
- Add lime juice and 1/2 cup Parmigiano. Pulse a few times. I prefer a rough chop pesto, but you make your version how you like it.
- With processor running drizzle in approximately 1/2 cup olive oil. I like less oil but if you prefer a more oily pesto then go ahead and add more.
- Scrape pesto out into a bowl. Stir in salt and black pepper to taste.
- Cook Bucatini according to package directions and drain well. Save 1 cup of hot pasta water.
- Toss hot pasta with a generous portion of the pesto & hot pasta water. Top with chopped tomatoes and additional Parmigiano. Store leftover pesto in a jar with a tight-fitting lid chilled for up to 2 weeks or freeze.
Note: This pesto is wonderful topping a flatbread pizza or smeared on crusty bread slices.
Teresa Blackburn www.teresablackburnfoodstyling.com www.foodonfifth.com
Looks divine, Teresa!
Thanks Judy hope you are well.
That looks great! Love pasta dishes!
I have so enjoyed your artwork and look forward to seeing more. Thank you for stopping by.
Thank you so much and you are welcome!
Love bucatini pasta and this pesto looks and sounds amazing. Cannot wait to try it!
Well It is always nice to hear such comments coming from a fellow blogger friend who lives with a talented Italian cook! Thanks much Scott.
Looks delish! And can you believe it? I saw bucatini at Krogers yesterday, wonders never cease!
The wonders of our culinary world never cease to amaze! One week they will have it and the next week not! Go Krogers! Thanks sweet one.
That was so delicious
It is always my pleasure to feed such an open mind to my food creations! You are one good audience.
Ok, this is from a proofreader not a gourmet: the verb was left out of sentence stating where you get your pasta. and I’m not leaving a comment cause asparagus makes me ill. You’re welcome.
Sent from my iPhone to >
I need your editing skills and no telling how many errors you have let slip through over the years. I really do hate being a dolt when it comes to grammer…but with my West TN public education I am often amazed that I come up with anything correct!! Thanks Friend.
Another recipe of yours I must try! Love the pistachios with lime and asparagus together for a really fresh take on pesto, Teresa. The shot of the bucatini is gorgeous!
Johanne Lamarche
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As always Thanks sweet Johanne.
Teresa, your bucatini tossed with asparagus pesto looks simply delicious 🙂
Muchas Gracias Marisa.
Oh my, this looks delicious, the images, the write-up!! I must try!
Give it a go and let me know how your version turns out. Thanks for stopping by.
I keep trying to find bucatini at my local grocery but no success yet. I should probably try Whole Foods. This looks so delicious, I am loving the spring veggie recipes coming out right now!
Interestingly enough my daughter just told me that she found it at one of the Nashville Krogers! It can be a hit or miss thing. But really any good noodle will work and thanks for the visit and nice comment.
Beautiful arrangement Teresa, I don’t believe I’ve heard of bucatini, but I’ll now be on the hunt for it. Love spring veggies, and especially asparagus. Gorgeous presentation. You might have an error trying to embed your recipe in the post?
Loretta thanks so much for your visit to Food on Fifth. Also thanks for pointing out “my error” when doing my recipe! Just fixed it and I should not get in such as hurry!! Happy April!
I want some!!!
Ooo this sounds delicious and the sauce packs so many good veggies! I will have to try this recipe!
That looks so refreshing and tasty! I’m bookmarking this for later 🙂
That looks so lovely, Spring pasta recipes are my faves!
Tania @ http://www.thegammonkitchen.wordpress.com