Ligurian Style: Trofie w/ Pesto, Potatoes & Green Beans

trofie2

This is one of my favorite pastas. I crave it.

This is a popular dish in Genoa in the Ligurian region of Italy, where pesto is king.
I use my best Ligurian olive oil to make it authentic, and fresh trofie pasta from Italy from my Italian grocer.

Potatoes, green beans and pasta sound like a strange combination, but I promise you, once you make this, you will crave it too.

You can peel the potatoes, but I leave the skins on because I am lazy.
If you don't have homemade pesto in the freezer from last summer, then it's fine to use a store bought brand.

Pasta w/ Pesto, Potatoes & Green Beans:

1/2 lb. trofie shaped pasta (use gemelli if you can't find trofie)
1/4-1/2 cup of basil pesto (for my recipe, click here)
1/4 cup of pasta water (don't forget to save it before draining the pasta!)
8 small new potatoes, quartered and cubed (peeled or not)
1/2 lb. green beans, trimmed and sliced in half on the diagonal

In a saucepan, boil your potato cubes for approx 9 minutes.
To the same pot, add the green beans and cook another 5 minutes with the potatoes.
(check to make sure the potatoes are fork tender).



Drain the beans and potatoes and add to a large bowl.

Boil the pasta as per directions and drain, saving 1/4 cup of the pasta water.

Add pasta to the bowl with the vegetables.

Add pesto and thin with the pasta water to achieve a nice consistency.
Serve immediately.



I have been known to add peas to this dish too, but I don't think that is authentic!

Enjoy!

Comments

Ciao Chow Linda said…
Brava Stacey - A perfect combination and like you said, most people don't realize that the classic pesto is made with green beans and potatoes. I love the classic trofie pasta too and am thinking this would be a great meal for any day, but particularly on a Friday during Lent.
Foodiewife said…
I just made a fresh batch of pesto. I don't have the authentic olive oil and pasta, so don't rat me out. Definitely a dish we'd love. I love pesto!
kat said…
This would go over big at my house with a certain husband
Bit of Butter said…
Oh, I just love this. I will totally be making this in the next few weeks!!
The JR said…
Looks very good, I haven't seen that pasta before.
Maria said…
Wonderful dish! Pesto is the best!
Dana said…
I actually like the color that the unpeeled potatoes give the dish. Looks absolutely perfect for a winter-y night in Seattle (yes, I know it's spring...)
Kim said…
I love the trofie pasta too, worth every penny.
Michele said…
The first time I had pesto there was potatoes in with it and the pasta. I never had it with the beans though. I think I saw Lidia do it once before. It looks beautiful and I will definitely give it a shot. I never see Trofie pasta though.
Cherine said…
this dish looks soo good!!
Suddenly I'm craving pasta, love this combination.
Great, tasty, and fresh. Thanks a lot for sharing this idea.