Ina Garten’s Refreshing Pesto Pea Salad Recipe for Summer

Pesto pea salad bursts with vibrant green flavors that dance across your plate, transforming simple ingredients into a masterpiece of culinary delight.

Fresh ingredients mingle in perfect harmony, creating a dish that speaks to comfort and elegance.

Summer’s bounty shines through each carefully selected component, promising a refreshing experience for your taste buds.

Crisp and cool, this salad offers a delightful blend of textures that surprise and satisfy.

Creamy pesto coats tender peas, bringing depth and richness to every forkful.

The combination feels both sophisticated and wonderfully approachable, making it ideal for casual gatherings or elegant dinners.

Nutritious and quick to assemble, this recipe provides a delicious solution for busy home cooks seeking something special: dive in and savor the magic.

What Sets Ina’s Pesto Pea Salad Apart

• Burst with Fresh Flavors: This pesto pea salad delivers a vibrant punch of herbal basil and sweet green peas, creating an incredibly fresh and bright taste experience that dances on your palate.
• Speedy Gourmet Preparation: With just 15-20 minutes from start to finish, this recipe transforms simple ingredients into a restaurant-quality side dish that looks and tastes impressively sophisticated without requiring complex cooking skills.
• Nutrient-Packed Power Salad: Packed with protein from nuts, rich antioxidants from spinach and basil, and healthy olive oil, this salad offers a delicious way to enjoy a nutritionally dense meal that supports overall wellness.
• Versatile Culinary Chameleon: Perfect for summer picnics, quick weeknight dinners, or elegant dinner parties, this salad can be served warm or cold, making it an incredibly adaptable dish that fits multiple dining scenarios.

Ingredients That Make Pesto Pea Salad Shine

• Walnuts, Pine Nuts: Classic nuts that add rich, buttery texture and depth to the pesto base.
• Garlic: Provides sharp, pungent flavor that enhances the overall taste of the dish.

• Basil Leaves: Fresh herb that creates the classic pesto flavor and bright green color.
• Spinach: Tender green that serves as the salad base with mild, fresh taste.

• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that balance and enhance the overall flavor.
• Parmesan Cheese: Salty, nutty cheese that adds complexity and richness to the pesto.

• Olive Oil: Smooth, fruity oil that helps blend pesto ingredients and adds silky texture.
• Peas: Sweet, tender vegetables that provide color and fresh garden flavor.

Ina’s Go-To Method for Pesto Pea Salad

Step 1: Prepare Nutty Pesto Base

• Gather walnuts
• Collect pine nuts
• Grab fresh garlic cloves

Add ingredients to food processor and pulse for 15 seconds until finely chopped.

Step 2: Create Pesto Flavor Profile

• Add fresh basil leaves
• Sprinkle salt
• Grind black pepper

Slowly stream olive oil while blending until mixture becomes smooth and silky.

Step 3: Finalize Pesto Sauce

Incorporate parmesan cheese and blend for one minute. Transfer to container and cover with thin olive oil layer. Store in refrigerator or freezer for future use.

Step 4: Cook and Chill Peas

Boil peas in salted water for one minute. Immediately transfer to ice water bath to stop cooking and preserve bright green color.

Step 5: Toast Pine Nuts

Heat dry skillet over medium temperature. Add pine nuts and toast for approximately 4 minutes, stirring frequently until golden brown and fragrant.

Step 6: Assemble Colorful Salad

• Place fresh spinach in serving bowl
• Drain cooled peas
• Add peas to spinach
• Sprinkle toasted pine nuts
• Drizzle homemade pesto

Gently toss ingredients to ensure even coating and serve immediately.

Key Advice for Perfect Pesto Pea Salad

• Blend Smoothly: Add olive oil gradually while making pesto to create a silky, well-incorporated sauce that coats ingredients perfectly.
• Spice It Up: Introduce red pepper flakes or chopped jalapeño to give the pesto a zesty kick without overwhelming the delicate pea flavors.
• Customize Your Greens: Swap basil with spinach or arugula for a different flavor profile, and replace pine nuts with sunflower seeds for an allergy-friendly version.
• Keep It Dry: Carefully drain and pat peas completely after cooling to prevent watery pooling and maintain the salad's crisp texture.
• Elevate Nutty Flavors: Golden-toast pine nuts until fragrant and use freshly grated parmesan to maximize the rich, deep taste of your pesto pea salad.

How to Store Pesto Pea Salad Properly

• Airtight Container Method: Seal the pesto pea salad tightly in a glass or hard plastic container to lock in freshness. Press down gently to remove excess air that might cause quick spoilage, preventing moisture and odors from seeping in.
• Olive Oil Preservation Method: Create a protective layer by drizzling a thin film of high-quality olive oil on top before sealing. This technique helps prevent oxidation and maintains the vibrant green color of the pesto, extending the salad's lifespan by creating a natural barrier against air exposure.
• Temperature Control Method: Keep the salad consistently chilled at 40°F or below in the refrigerator's main compartment. Position the container away from the door to ensure stable temperature, which helps preserve the delicate flavors and prevents potential bacterial growth.

Fun Ideas to Remix Pesto Pea Salad

• Nutty Green Revolution: Swap walnuts with almonds or pecans for a different nutty profile, creating a unique pesto base that adds depth to the salad.
• Mediterranean Fusion: Replace spinach with arugula and add crumbled feta cheese, bringing a tangy Mediterranean flavor to the classic pesto pea salad.
• Protein Power Boost: Incorporate grilled chicken or chickpeas to transform the salad into a more substantial and protein-rich meal that keeps you energized.
• Summer Garden Remix: Mix in cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and fresh herbs like mint or parsley to create a lighter, more vibrant summer version of the original recipe.

All Wrapped Up: Pesto Pea Salad Edition

Pesto Pea Salad emerges as Mediterranean magic on your plate, dancing with bright green flavors and nutty undertones.

Balanced ingredients create harmonious culinary poetry that whispers comfort and excitement simultaneously.

Homemade pesto transforms simple vegetables into gourmet experiences, connecting rustic traditions with modern kitchen creativity.

Fresh spinach provides crisp foundations while toasted pine nuts add delightful crunch and complexity.

Savor each forkful, share this recipe with friends, comment below about your personal twist, and let this salad inspire your next kitchen adventure.

Ina Garten Pesto Pea Salad Recipe

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4.7 from 36 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s pesto pea salad brings Mediterranean freshness to summer tables with minimal effort. Cool green peas mingle with herbal pesto, creating a simple side dish that whisks you straight to an Italian garden party.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 300g baby spinach leaves
• 100g basil
• 250g frozen peas
• 100g grated parmesan

Nuts and Seasonings:

• 30g walnuts
• 2 tablespoons (30 ml) pine nuts, toasted
• 30g pine nuts
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Additional Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons (45 ml) garlic, chopped
• 350 milliliters (11.8 fluid ounces) olive oil

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Instructions

1. Pulverize walnuts, pine nuts, and garlic in a food processor for approximately 15 seconds until finely chopped.
2. Incorporate fresh basil leaves, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper into the nut mixture. Gradually stream extra virgin olive oil (60 milliliters or 2 fluid ounces) while processing until the mixture achieves a silky, uniform consistency.
3. Gently fold in grated parmesan cheese and blend for an additional 60 seconds until ingredients are thoroughly integrated. Transfer pesto to an airtight container and cover with a thin protective layer of olive oil to prevent oxidation.
4. Prepare an ice bath in a separate bowl with cold water and ice cubes.
5. Bring a pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add green peas and cook for precisely 1 minute until they turn bright green and become tender.
6. Immediately drain peas and plunge them into the prepared ice bath to halt the cooking process and preserve their vibrant color and crisp texture.
7. In a dry skillet over medium heat, carefully toast pine nuts for 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly until they develop a golden brown color and release a nutty aroma.
8. Place fresh spinach leaves in a large salad bowl. Drain cooled peas thoroughly and distribute them evenly over the spinach.
9. Sprinkle toasted pine nuts over the salad and drizzle with of freshly prepared pesto. Gently toss all ingredients to ensure even coating and serve immediately.

Notes

• Peas release moisture during cooling, so drain and pat them completely dry to prevent watery salad texture.
• Elevate pine nuts’ flavor by toasting them until golden brown, bringing out a rich, nutty essence.
• Create customizable pesto by swapping basil with spinach or arugula, and using sunflower seeds for nut-free alternatives.
• Kick up the heat with red pepper flakes or chopped jalapeño, carefully balancing spiciness with other vibrant ingredients.
• Blend olive oil slowly into pesto mixture, ensuring a silky-smooth consistency without becoming overly thick.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Blending
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 392 kcal
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 210 mg
• Fat: 43 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 36 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 7 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 8 g
• Cholesterol: 12 mg