Trenette With Pesto, Potatoes And Green Beans

* Exported from MasterCook *

TRENETTE WITH PESTO, POTATOES AND GREEN BEANS

Recipe By : Bon Appetit May 1995
Serving Size : 4 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Pasta Potatoes
Vegetables

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 cup packed fresh basil leaves (2 bunches)
1 1/2 cups olive oil (preferably extra-virgin)
6 T (1-oz) freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese
6 T (1-oz) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 medium russet potatoes, peeled, cut in 1/2" cubes
6 ounces green beans, trimmed, cut in 3"lengths
1 pound trenette pasta or linguine
Additional freshly grated Pecorino
Romano cheese

Finely grind basil, oil, 6 tablespoons each Romano and Parmesan cheeses,
toasted pine nuts and minced garlic in processor. Season pesto to taste
with salt and pepper. (Pesto can be prepared 2 days ahead. Press
plastic wrap onto surface of pesto and refrigerate.)

Cook potatoes in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender,
about 5 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer potatoes to large bowl.
Add green beans to same pot and cook until crisp-tender, about 3
minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer to bowl with potatoes. Cook
pasta in same pot until tender but still firm to bite. Drain, reserving
1/2 cup cooking liquid. Transfer pasta to bowl with potatoes and green
beans.

Whisk reserved 1/2 cup cooking liquid into pesto. Add pesto to pasta
mixture and toss thoroughly to coat. Transfer pasta to large platter.
Serve, passing additional Pecorino Romano separately.

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NOTES : Basil is one of the favorite ingredients of the Italian region
of Liguria, and there is no place in the world where it is more
fragrant or put to such delicious use. It's the basis of the classic
Genoese sauce, pesto, in which it is partnered with garlic, olive oil,
pine nuts, and Parmesan and Pecorino Romano cheeses. It shows up most
typically floating atop minestrone, drizzled over potato gnocchi,
or - as here - tossed with trenette (the local ribbon pasta), potatoes
and green beans.