Description
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
- 3 tablespoons (45 ml / 1.5 fl oz) garlic, chopped
- 350 milliliters (11.8 fl oz / 11.8 fluid ounces) olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- 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.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 460mg
- Fat: 54g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 46g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 13g
- Cholesterol: 20mg