Peppery basil and smooth pesto weave through the salad, bringing depth and richness to every forkful.
Perfect for backyard gatherings or elegant dinner parties, this dish elevates simple ingredients into something extraordinary.
Grab your ingredients and let’s turn fresh produce into a celebration of flavor.
Instructions to Toss Peas & Pesto with Ease
Nutty Green Delight
Pesto Preparation The heart of this dish starts with creating a vibrant, aromatic pesto sauce using classic Italian ingredients. Combine nuts, fresh garlic, and herbs in a food processor, blending until a smooth, fragrant mixture forms.
Nut Toasting Creating depth of flavor begins with carefully browning pine nuts in a dry pan. Watch closely as they transform from pale to golden, releasing their rich, buttery essence.
Vegetable Selection Fresh, crisp greens form the foundation of this salad. Choose bright spinach leaves as the base, providing a nutritious and colorful canvas for the dish.
Pea Magic Quick-cooking peas bring a sweet, tender element to the salad. Blanch them briefly in boiling water, then shock in ice-cold water to preserve their vivid green color and delicate texture.
Final Ensemble Gently combine the cool peas, toasted nuts, and verdant spinach. Drizzle with the homemade pesto, tossing everything together to ensure each bite is packed with incredible flavor and texture.
Add Pasta or Cheese for More Bite
Replace walnuts or pine nuts with almonds, pecans, or cashews for unique flavor profiles and added crunch.
Prepare pesto and peas up to 2 days in advance, storing separately in airtight containers to maintain freshness and texture.
Enhance the salad by adding grilled chicken, shrimp, or crumbled feta cheese for a more substantial meal.
Experiment with different leafy bases like arugula, mixed greens, or kale to create exciting flavor combinations and nutritional diversity.
Create a vegan version by substituting parmesan with nutritional yeast or a dairy-free cheese alternative for a plant-based twist.
Serving as a Light Lunch or Colorful Side
Serve Chilled for Refreshing Flavor: Cool this pesto pea salad in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before serving to enhance the crisp, fresh taste of spinach and peas.
Pair with Protein Power: Complement the salad with grilled chicken, seared salmon, or sliced hard-boiled eggs to create a complete and satisfying meal.
Garnish with Gourmet Touch: Sprinkle extra toasted pine nuts, fresh basil leaves, or shaved parmesan cheese on top to add texture and elevate the visual appeal of the dish.
Enjoy as Side or Main: Serve this versatile salad as a light lunch, elegant side dish at summer gatherings, or quick weeknight dinner option that's packed with nutrients.
Chill in the Fridge for Best Flavor Infusion
Refrigerate and Refresh: Store pesto in an airtight container with a thin olive oil layer to prevent browning, keeping it fresh for 5-7 days in the refrigerator.
Freeze for Future Meals: Transfer pesto to ice cube trays, freeze solid, then pop out and store in freezer bags for easy portioning up to 3 months.
Quick Salad Survival: Keep the spinach and pea salad crisp by storing components separately and mixing just before serving to maintain texture and prevent wilting.
Smart Nut Handling: Toast pine nuts in small batches and store in sealed containers at room temperature for up to two weeks, ensuring maximum crunch and flavor.
Quick Recipe Overview
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Calories: 570 kcal
Servings: 4
What You Need for Ina’s Pesto Pea Salad
For Pesto Base:
Walnuts: Adds rich, earthy depth and creamy texture to the pesto with a subtle nutty crunch.
Pine Nuts: Provides a delicate, buttery flavor and classic Mediterranean pesto character.
Garlic: Delivers a sharp, aromatic punch that elevates the entire sauce's flavor profile.
Basil Leaves: Brings fresh, vibrant green herbaceous notes that define traditional pesto.
Salt, Pepper: Enhances and balances the overall taste of the pesto.
Olive Oil: Creates smooth consistency and carries the herbs' intense flavors.
Parmesan Cheese: Adds salty, umami complexity and helps bind the pesto ingredients.
For Salad Components:
Spinach: Offers a tender, nutrient-rich green base with mild earthy undertones.
Peas: Introduces sweet, tender brightness and delightful green color to the salad.
Toasted Pine Nuts: Provides extra crunch and intensified nutty flavor through careful toasting.
The Utensils That Help This Salad Pop
Food Processor: Essential for blending pesto ingredients smoothly and quickly.
Large Pot: Perfect for boiling peas in salted water.
Dry Pan: Great for toasting pine nuts to enhance their flavor.
Salad Bowl: Needed to mix spinach, peas, pine nuts, and pesto.
Cutting Board: Useful for prepping ingredients like basil and garlic.
Chef's Knife: Required for chopping herbs and ingredients.
Measuring Spoons: Helps add precise amounts of salt, pepper, and pesto.
Colander: Helps drain peas after boiling.
Ice Bowl: Necessary for quickly cooling boiled peas.
Ina Garten’s pesto pea salad combines fresh garden ingredients with creamy textures and bold Mediterranean flavors. Crisp peas and fragrant basil create a delightful side dish perfect for summer gatherings and quick weeknight meals.
Ingredients
Scale
100 grams (3.5 oz) basil
300 grams (10.6 oz) baby spinach leaves
250 grams (8.8 oz) frozen peas
100 grams (3.5 oz) grated parmesan
30 grams (1.1 oz) walnuts
30 grams (1.1 oz) pine nuts
2 tablespoons (30 ml / 1 fl oz) pine nuts, toasted
Pesto Preparation: Pulverize walnuts, pine nuts, and garlic in a food processor until finely chopped. Add basil leaves, kosher salt, and black pepper, then gradually stream olive oil while processing until achieving a silky consistency.
Cheese Integration: Fold in parmesan cheese and blend thoroughly. Transfer pesto to an airtight container, covering with a thin olive oil layer to prevent oxidation.
Pea Blanching: Bring salted water to a boil, add green peas, and cook for one minute until bright green. Immediately transfer to an ice bath to stop cooking and preserve color and texture.
Nut Toasting: In a dry skillet, toast pine nuts over medium heat, stirring constantly until golden brown and fragrant.
Salad Assembly: Arrange spinach leaves in a large bowl, distribute drained peas evenly, and sprinkle toasted pine nuts over the top. Drizzle with freshly prepared pesto and gently toss to ensure even coating before serving immediately.
Notes
Prevent Pesto Browning: Cover with a thin olive oil layer to stop oxidation and maintain vibrant green color.
Perfect Pea Blanching: Cook exactly 1 minute to preserve bright green color and crisp texture; use ice bath immediately after boiling.
Nut Toasting Technique: Toast pine nuts carefully over medium heat, stirring constantly for 3-4 minutes until golden brown to enhance nutty flavor.
Fresh Ingredient Rule: Use fresh basil leaves and high-quality extra virgin olive oil for maximum flavor and authenticity in the pesto.
Degree: Associate of Applied Science in Baking and Pastry Arts
Focus: Techniques in baking, pastry creation, and dessert presentation.
San Antonio Culinary Institute
Program: Diploma in Farm-to-Table Culinary Practices
Focus: Emphasis on utilizing locally sourced ingredients and understanding seasonal flavors.
Sophia’s passion for baking began in her family kitchen, where she spent hours experimenting with new recipes. With a background in baking and pastry arts, she loves making desserts that are as visually stunning as they are delicious.
Sophia is all about using seasonal, locally sourced ingredients to create treats that everyone will enjoy. When she’s not creating mouth-watering desserts, you can find her gardening, making new recipes, or enjoying a relaxing afternoon with her family.
Sophia Rivera
Recipe Developer & Kitchen Tips Specialist
Expertise
Education
Austin Community College
San Antonio Culinary Institute
Sophia’s passion for baking began in her family kitchen, where she spent hours experimenting with new recipes. With a background in baking and pastry arts, she loves making desserts that are as visually stunning as they are delicious.
Sophia is all about using seasonal, locally sourced ingredients to create treats that everyone will enjoy. When she’s not creating mouth-watering desserts, you can find her gardening, making new recipes, or enjoying a relaxing afternoon with her family.