Penne with Pesto, Potatoes & Green Beans

At its best, pesto is a beautiful emerald green and still has a bit of texture. In Italy, it is traditionally paired with trenette, a fresh ribbon pasta, but it also goes well with dried pasta. Green beans and new potatoes are classic partners, making this a perfect dish for early summer when the vegetables and herbs are at their peak.

Yield:

Serves 4-6

Ingredients

1. For the pesto:
2. =============
3. 1 1/2 cups lightly packed fresh basil leaves
4. 3 Tbs. pine nuts
5. 1 garlic clove, coarsely chopped
6. 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
7. 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
8. 1/4 lb. Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, freshly grated
9. .
10. Kosher salt for cooking the vegetables and the pasta
11. 1/2 lb. small red potatoes, peeled and sliced about 1/4 inch thick
12. 1/2 lb. young, thin green beans, stem ends trimmed
13. 1 lb. dried penne
14. 1 Tbs. unsalted butter, at room temperature

Directions

1. Put the basil, pine nuts, garlic and salt in a large mortar. Using a pestle, and working in a circular motion, grind the ingredients together until a dense, thick green paste forms. This could take several minutes to do, but don't be discouraged. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while stirring continuously with the pestle until a thick, flowing sauce forms. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and then use a spoon to stir in the cheese. Taste the pesto; it should taste primarily of fresh basil with accents of garlic, nuts and cheese. If you feel it tastes bland, stir in more cheese or salt until the flavors are nicely balanced. Keep in mind that the flavor will be diluted once it is mixed with the pasta and vegetables.
2. Preheat an oven to 200°F and place a large, shallow bowl and individual plates in the oven to warm. Bring a large pot three-fourths full of water to a rolling boil and add about 2 Tbs. salt. Add the potatoes and green beans and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Use a large slotted spoon to transfer the potatoes and beans to the warmed large bowl. Cover the bowl lightly with aluminum foil to keep the vegetables warm.
3. Bring the water back to a rolling boil, add the pasta all at once and stir it gently. Let the pasta cook, stirring occasionally, until it is tender but still slightly chewy (al dente), 7 to 9 minutes. Transfer 2 ladlefuls of pasta-cooking water to a heatproof container; youll use it to adjust the consistency of the dish when you toss it. Pour the pasta into a colander to drain, then shake the colander just once to remove some of the remaining water. The pasta should still be moist.
4. Add the drained pasta to the bowl with the vegetables and then add the pesto. Using a wooden spoon or spatula, stir and toss the pasta and vegetables until they are well coated with the sauce. If the mixture looks dry, add a little of the pasta-cooking water and mix again. Add the butter and toss to coat evenly.
5. Using a large serving spoon, divide the sauced pasta and vegetables evenly among the warmed plates. Serve immediately. Serves 4 to 6.

Notes

Chefs Tip: To keep pesto a vibrant green, many chefs add a couple tablespoons of flat-leaf parsley leaves to their formula. Parsley doesn't darken the way basil does when it is pounded or cut.