Broccoli Rabe and Pistachio Pesto Pasta with Burrata
A unique twist on pesto: made with broccoli rabe and toasted pistachios and served with creamy chunks of fresh burrata cheese.
Yield: 5 servings
Cook Time: 15 minutesminutes
Total Time: 25 minutesminutes
Ingredients
8oz/ 226g(1 bunch) broccoli rabe, trimmed to remove large stems (about 6oz trimmed)
⅓cup/ 41gshelled pistachios, lightly toasted
2large garlic cloves
¼cup/ 25gfinely grated Parmesan cheese
¼cup/ 25gfinely grated Pecorino cheese, plus more for serving
1teaspoonflake sea salt
1teaspoonred wine vinegar
½teaspoonred pepper flakes
1tablespoontoasted pistachio oil
½cup/ 108gextra virgin olive oil
1pound/ 450gcasarecce pasta
8ounces/ 226g(2 balls) fresh burrata cheese, torn into bite-sized pieces
micro greens, such as micro broccoli, optional, for serving
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Blanch trimmed broccoli raab for about 1 minute until bright green. Drain and transfer to an ice bath to stop the cooking. Drain well, squeezing out as much water as you can.
Place blanched broccoli raab in the bowl of a food processor along with pistachios, garlic, parmesan and pecorino, salt, vinegar, red pepper flakes and pistachio oil. Pulse until finely chopped.
Drizzle in olive oil, a few tablespoons at a time, scraping down the sides of the food processor as you go. Add enough oil to form a thick but creamy paste (slightly thicker is preferable here, since you'll likely be thinning it out with pasta water). Taste and add additional salt and/or pepper flakes as desired.
Meanwhile, bring a fresh pot of salted water to a boil. Add casarecce pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Set aside 1 cup of pasta water, then drain pasta well and return to empty saucepan. Add pesto and toss until evenly coated.
Divide among serving bowls. Top with a few chunks of fresh buratta, microgreens and additional grated cheese, as desired.