Snap Peas And Green Beans With Arugula Mint Pesto Food

SNAP PEAS AND GREEN BEANS WITH ARUGULA-MINT PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Toast almonds on a rimmed baking sheet, tossing once, until fragrant and slightly darkened in color, 8-10 minutes. Let cool, then coarsely chop half of almonds and set aside. Pulse remaining almonds with garlic, arugula, half of Parmesan, and 1 cup mint in a food processor to a smooth paste. With motor running, stream in oil; thin with 2 tablespoons cold water to reach a pourable consistency. Season pesto with salt and pepper.
• Cook peas and beans in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Drain; transfer to a bowl of ice water and chill until cold. Drain peas and beans; pat dry with paper towels. Transfer to a large bowl and toss with lemon juice and 3 tablespoons pesto; season with salt and pepper.
• Arrange peas and beans in a large bowl or platter over remaining pesto. Top with more mint leaves, reserved almonds, and remaining Parmesan; season with salt and pepper. Serve with lemon wedges for squeezing over.
• Do Ahead
• Peas and beans can be blanched 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.

GREEN BEANS AND NEW POTATOES WITH MINT PESTO

Steps:

• Toast walnuts in small skillet 4 to 5 minutes over medium heat, or until nuts are fragrant, shaking pan frequently. Cool.
• Purée walnuts, mint, parsley, oil, ginger, lemon juice, garlic, sugar and salt in food processor or blender until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides of bowl once or twice. Transfer to bowl. Press plastic wrap onto surface of pesto to keep from turning brown, and let stand at room temperature for 1/2 hour, or up to 3 hours.
• Bring large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and cook 8 minutes. Add beans, and simmer4 to 5 minutes more, or until vegetables are tender. Drain.
• Transfer vegetables to large bowl, and toss with pesto. Serve warm or at room temperature.

PENNE WITH SUGAR SNAP PEAS AND ARUGULA PESTO

Steps:

• To prepare the penne:
• In a large saucepan of salted boiling water blanch the sugar snap peas for 45 seconds, or until they are crisp-tender, transfer them with a skimmer to a large serving bowl, and toss them with 1/2 cup of the pesto. In the boiling water cook the pasta until it is al dente, reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta-cooking water, and drain the pasta in a colander. In the bowl with the sugar snap peas toss the pasta with the reserved pasta-cooking water, 1/4 cup of the remaining pesto, or to taste, and salt and pepper to taste.
• To make the pesto:
• In a food processor combine the arugula, the walnuts, the Parmesan or Sardo, the salt, and the garlic and pulse the motor until the walnuts are chopped fine. With the motor running add the oil in a stream and blend the pesto with hot cooked pasta, potatoes, or vegetables. The pesto keeps, chilled, its surface covered with plastic wrap, for 2 weeks. Makes about 2 cups.

SUGAR SNAP PEAS WITH MINT

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sugar snap peas, green onion, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Stir-fry for 4 minutes, then remove from heat and stir in the mint leaves.

MINTY SUGAR SNAP PEAS

Steps:

• Place 1 in. of water in a large skillet. Add peas and sugar; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until peas are crisp-tender, 4-5 minutes; drain. Stir in mint and butter.

PESTO GREEN BEANS

Steps:

• Arrange green beans in a steamer basket over boiling water. Cover and steam 6 minutes or until crisp-tender.
• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat.
• Stir in garlic, pesto and salt. Saute 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated.
• Toss butter mixture with beans in a bowl.
• Serve immediately.