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Silky Spring Green Pasta with Lemon and Pistachio

Silky Spring Green Pasta with Lemon and Pistachio makes a luminous centerpiece for a spring table. Fettuccine is tossed in a sauce of spinach, parsley, goat cheese, and lemon — simple ingredients blended into something special.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb pasta
  • 5 oz fresh baby spinach
  • 1/2 cup flat leaf parsley
  • 1/2 cup shelled pistachios plus more for serving
  • 2-3 tbsp cream cheese softened
  • 2 oz goat cheese softened, plus more for topping
  • zest of one lemon plus 1-2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • salt and pepper
  • Parmesan cheese for serving

Method
 

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente. Before draining, remove 1 and 1/2 cups pasta water from the pot. Then drain.
  2. While the pasta cooks, add the spinach and parsley to the boiling water for 20-30 seconds to blanch. Cook until just wilted and bright green. Remove from the boiling water and plunge them into an ice bath to stop cooking. Once cool, squeeze out as much water as possible from both.
  3. In a food processor or blender, add the spinach, parsley, pistachios, cream cheese, goat cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, 1/2 tsp of salt, and pepper. Add a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen. The sauce should be spoonable, not too thick.
  4. Add the drained pasta to a serving bowl. Add the sauce on top and toss. Add spoonfuls of the reserved pasta water until the pasta is silky and smooth.
  5. Taste and adjust with lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Add grated parmesan, chopped pistachios, crumbled goat cheese, and lemon zest on top. Serve warm and enjoy!