Sicilian Pasta with Burrata

Homemade pistachio pesto

With this pistachio pesto pasta with burrata, you can bring a taste of Sicily to your table.

The combination of creamy burrata, homemade pistachio pesto, and a good-quality pasta makes this an easy recipe that’s full of flavor. Better yet, it’s on the table in just 15 minutes. You’ll also find this recipe in our cookbook, and it’s one of our favorite vegetarian pasta dishes. It’s perfect for a busy weeknight, but just as delicious when you’re cooking for guests.

World-famous pistachios

A great pistachio pesto starts with great pistachios. In Sicily, it’s often made with the world-famous pistachios from the area around Bronte. This small town sits at the foot of Mount Etna, where the volcanic soil and sunny climate produce pistachios with a delicate, slightly sweet flavor. It’s no surprise they’re considered among the best in the world.

Our pesto is incredibly easy to make. We finely chop the pistachios in a small food processor (we highly recommend ours. It’s fast, powerful, and easy to clean), then add fresh basil, Parmesan cheese, garlic, lemon juice, and extra virgin olive oil. In just seconds, you’ll have a creamy pesto that clings beautifully to the pasta.

Casarecce: the perfect pasta for pesto

Every time we travel through Italy, we’re reminded how important it is to pair the right pasta with the right sauce. Italians carefully choose each pasta shape to match the dish. With a creamy pesto like this, pasta with plenty of ridges or an open shape is the perfect choice because it holds onto the sauce so well.

Our favorite for this recipe is casarecce. This Sicilian pasta has a lightly twisted shape with an open groove that catches the pesto in every bite. It’s becoming easier to find in supermarkets and Italian specialty stores, but if you can’t find it, fusilli or penne rigate are excellent alternatives. Both hold the sauce beautifully.

A quick vegetarian favorite

This is one of those recipes we make whenever we’re short on time but still want something really good for dinner. While the pasta cooks, the pesto comes together, and then all that’s left is to combine everything. With just a handful of fresh ingredients, you’ll have a complete meal in no time.

We never miss the meat in this one-pan meal. The creamy burrata and pistachio pesto make it satisfying all on their own. If you’d like to add something extra, crispy cooked bacon makes a surprisingly good addition. Finish by placing the burrata on top of the warm pasta and season with a pinch of salt, freshly ground black pepper, and a few extra basil leaves. It’s a simple Sicilian pasta dish that proves you don’t need many ingredients to create something special in just 15 minutes.

Print