Fusilli with Pistachio Pesto

I must admit, I love me some pistachios. Left to my own devices, I will sit and eat an entire bag/bowl/container of those little nuts. I don't even mind de-shelling them. I figure it helps burn some of the calories I'm eating. ;)

When I saw this recipe, I knew I had to try it out -- I mean, it's pesto (yummy) made with pistachios instead of pine nuts.

Fusilli with Pistachio Pesto
From: Cooking Light, August 2008

8 ounces uncooked fusilli pasta (I used farafelle)
2 cups fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup shelled, roasted pistachios, divided
1 1/2 tablespoons extravirgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup (1 ounce) grated fresh Parmesan cheese
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
Lemon wedges (optional)

Cook pasta according to the package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain pasta through a sieve over a bowl, reserving 1/4 cup pasta water. Rinse pasta with cold water; drain.

Combine basil, 3 tablespoons pistachios, oil, salt, and garlic in a food processor. Process until smooth, scraping sides. Transfer basil mixture to a large bowl; stir cheese and reserved 1/4 cup pasta water into basil mixture. Add pasta and tomatoes to basil mixture; toss gently to coat. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon pistachios. Serve with lemon wedges, if desired.

Serves: 4

The big problem with being so far behind with my blogging, is that occasionally I tend to forget what a meal tastes like. Unfortunately, this happens to be one of those meals. I remember that it was good... but there wasn't really anything that really stuck out about about it. Which makes me kind of sad, as I had such high hopes for my favorite nut. That said, I would still make this dish again, as it is pretty easy to throw together.

We rated it:

Nutrition Facts
Amount per serving
Calories 332	Calories from fat 104
% Daily Value
Total Fat 11.5g	18%
Saturated Fat 2.4g	12%
Cholesterol 6mg	2%
Sodium 421mg	18%
Total Carbs 46.9g	16%
Dietary Fiber 3.5g	14%
Sugars 3.1g
Protein 12.3g
Vitamin A 20%	Vitamin C 14%
Calcium 12%	Iron 18%