Home

Pasta with Arugula Pesto and Mussels

17/11/2023

Arugula pesto is a fresh and peppery variant of the classic Genovese pesto, and pairing it with mussels creates a unique dish with flavors that marry well together. Here is the recipe for a pasta dish with arugula pesto and mussels for 4 people.

Ingredients

  • 400 g of pasta (linguine or spaghetti work very well)
  • 1 kg of fresh mussels, cleaned
  • 100 g of arugula
  • 30 g of pine nuts
  • 40 g of grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • About 100 ml of extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt, to taste
  • Black pepper, to taste
  • Lemon juice, to taste
  • 1 bunch of fresh parsley (optional for garnish)

Preparation

  1. Preparation of the arugula pesto: In a mixer, add the arugula, pine nuts, peeled garlic, a pinch of salt, pepper, and the grated Parmesan. While blending, slowly incorporate the extra virgin olive oil until a creamy consistency is achieved. Adjust the salt and add a bit of lemon juice to enhance the flavors.

  2. Cooking the mussels: In a large pan, cook the mussels with a drizzle of oil and a clove of garlic. Cover with a lid and cook until all have opened. Remove the mussels from the pan and shell them, setting aside some whole mussels with the shell for garnishing the dishes.

  3. Preparation of the pasta: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta al dente according to the package instructions. Drain the pasta, but keep some of the cooking water.

  4. Finishing the dish: In a large skillet, mix the pasta with the arugula pesto and add the shelled mussels. If necessary, add some of the pasta cooking water to make the sauce creamier. Mix well to flavor the pasta.

  5. Plating: Serve the pasta with a drizzle of raw oil and garnish with the shell-on mussels you set aside and, if you like, some chopped fresh parsley.

Trivia

Arugula pesto is a delicious alternative to the more famous Genovese pesto. Its slightly spicy nature and vivid color make this condiment an interesting choice to enrich not only pasta but also sandwiches and salads. Paired with mussels, it gives us a dish with the scent of the sea and the freshness of greens.

Enjoy your meal! And if you need wine pairing advice, a fresh and mineral white wine could be the perfect match for this dish.