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March 6, 2025

Pea Pesto Spread

Two jars of pesto next to a bowl of lemons
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Pea Pesto Spread

Two jars of pesto next to a bowl of lemons

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One day, during my daily kitchen check-in, I found some peas, a handful of basil — and a few minutes to spare. I thought, “How about pea pesto?”

Sometimes my creations are one-night wonders — just something to get dinner on the table. Other times, they earn a spot on the Menu. This one made the cut.

It’s just like making pesto — only with peas. A fab little trick to get my picky eater to eat more vegetables.

I thought you might like this idea if you also need to find ways to get people to eat more vegetables —  pesto of any kind is a fabulous way to do it!

Ingredients

Scale

1 to 2 cups English or frozen peas

1 to 2 cloves garlic

Lemon juice

Lemon zest

Olive oil

Salt and pepper

Fresh basil or mint — or a bit of both!

Instructions

If using frozen peas, thaw them. If using fresh, cook and drain.
Add the peas, garlic, lemon juice, zest, olive oil, herbs, salt, and pepper to a food processor. 
Start with:

  • 1 clove of garlic

  • About 1 tablespoon of lemon juice

  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil per cup of peas

Pulse until the mixture is blended but still slightly chunky. Taste and adjust as needed.

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A mini food processor with english peas, lemon zest, and mint

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Notes:

A mini food processor for blending and a Microplane for zesting are handy kitchen tools for convenience and easy cleanup.

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Serving  Ideas:

Tartines

Pasta with Parmesan

Veggie dip

Garnish for roasted or steamed vegetables, meat, chicken, or fish

Add a dollop to soups and salads, sandwiches — anywhere you like!

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I often cook "au pif," as we say in France, which means cooking without an exact recipe and by "feel" using your intuition.  You’ll find guidelines in many recipes versus exact quantities.  Write to me here if you have any questions about the recipes.

Copyright 2019-2025, Return to the Table by Caterina De Falco, All Rights Reserved

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