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Whole wheat spaghetti with pea pesto, sundried tomatoes, and stracciatella

17/11/2023

I can guide you in preparing a tasty dish of whole wheat spaghetti with pea pesto, sundried tomatoes, and stracciatella. This is a fresh and colorful recipe, ideal for a spring or summer dinner.

Ingredients

  • 320 g of whole wheat spaghetti
  • 200 g of fresh or frozen peas
  • 50 g of sundried tomatoes in oil
  • 150 g of stracciatella di burrata (or simple burrata)
  • 30 g of pine nuts
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • Extra virgin olive oil to taste
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Fresh basil (a couple of leaves for garnish)
  • (Optional) Shavings of Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese for an extra Italian touch

Preparation

  1. Start with the preparation of the pea pesto. Boil the peas in salted boiling water for about 5-7 minutes if fresh, or 2-3 minutes if they’re frozen. Drain them and immediately cool them in ice water to maintain a bright color.

  2. Put the peas in a blender, add a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, the clove of garlic (germinated and at your discretion), pine nuts, salt, and pepper. Blend everything until you obtain a homogeneous mixture, adjusting the salt if necessary.

  3. Take the sundried tomatoes and cut them into thin strips.

  4. Bring salted water to a boil in a large pot and cook the whole wheat spaghetti following the instructions on the package to achieve al dente cooking.

  5. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and briefly sauté the sundried tomatoes, just enough to release their aroma.

  6. Drain the pasta while saving some of the cooking water. Transfer the spaghetti to the skillet with the sundried tomatoes and add the pea pesto, stirring gently. Add a bit of the cooking water if you find the pasta too dry.

  7. Serve the spaghetti on plates and finish with cheese shavings (if you wish), garnishing with some fresh basil leaves and adding the stracciatella di burrata on top of the hot pasta, so it starts to melt slightly.

  8. Give your final touch with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, if desired, and a pinch of freshly ground pepper.

Curiosity

Stracciatella di burrata is a delicate and stringy cheese typical of the Puglia region. Its fresh and creamy flavor pairs perfectly with the slightly sweet taste of peas and the intensity of sundried tomatoes, creating a balance of flavors that is very interesting and pleasant to the palate.