Pasta with pistachio and ricotta pesto

Lifestyle Recipes Everyday Pasta with pistachio and ricotta pesto A light but tasty dish perfect for the warmer months ahead Save Comment speech bubble icon Gift this article free Gift article Give full access to this article, free time. You have 15 articles left to gift, this month. Log in or Subscribe Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Add us as preferred source Share article Log in or Subscribe Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Diana Henry The Telegraph's award-winning cookery writer Diana Henry is the Telegraph’s much-loved cookery writer. She shares recipes each week, for everything from speedy family dinners to special menus that friends will remember for months. She is also a regular broadcaster on BBC Radio 4, and her journalism and recipe books, including Simple and How to Eat a Peach, are multi-award-winning. A mother of two sons, Diana can satisfy even the fussiest of eaters.    See more Published 22 May 2026 11:22am BST READ MORE ABOUT: Dinner recipes, Italian recipes, Pasta recipes, Lunch recipes, Cheese recipes, Easy recipes Save Comment speech bubble icon Share article Log in or Subscribe Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Gift this article free Gift article Give full access to this article, free time. You have 15 articles left to gift, this month. Log in or Subscribe Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Add us as preferred source A delicious twist on a pasta sauce, using nuts, spring onions and ricotta Credit: Haarala Hamilton and Valerie Berry Diana Henry The Telegraph's award-winning cookery writer Diana Henry is the Telegraph’s much-loved cookery writer. She shares recipes each week, for everything from speedy family dinners to special menus that friends will remember for months. She is also a regular broadcaster on BBC Radio 4, and her journalism and recipe books, including Simple and How to Eat a Peach, are multi-award-winning. A mother of two sons, Diana can satisfy even the fussiest of eaters.    See more Published 22 May 2026 11:22am BST This pesto (which has no herbs in it) was my obsession this summer. As well as on pasta it’s lovely tossed with green beans, asparagus and waxy potatoes. Or as a topping for crostini. Overview Prep time 10 mins Cook time 30 mins Serves 6 Ingredients 50g unsalted pistachios 8 spring onions, trimmed and chopped 15g butter 1 fat clove garlic, crushed 170ml extra-virgin olive oil 40g pecorino, grated, plus extra for sprinkling 130g ricotta, fresh if possible 425g casarecce pasta Method Step Parboil two thirds of the 50g unsalted pistachios, drain and rub off the papery skin (laborious but worth it). Lightly toast the remainder. Step Cook the 8 trimmed and chopped spring onions in 15g butter till soft but not coloured. Add 1 crushed garlic clove and cook for another 30 seconds or so. Step Blitz all the nuts with the spring onions and garlic in a food processor, gradually adding 170ml extra-virgin oil. Stir in 40g grated pecorino and 130g ricotta. Season to taste. Step Cook 425g casarecce pasta in lots of boiling, lightly salted water, then drain, reserving some of the cooking water.  Step Add a little of the water to the pesto mix to loosen it, then toss the pasta with just enough to coat it. Keep any spare in the fridge for another meal. Sprinkle with grated pecorino. Join the conversation Show comments The Telegraph values your comments but kindly requests all posts are on topic, constructive and respectful. Please review our commenting policy. Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email The Telegraph values your comments but kindly requests all posts are on topic, constructive and respectful. Please review our commenting policy. READ MORE ABOUT: Dinner recipes, Italian recipes, Pasta recipes, Lunch recipes, Cheese recipes, Easy recipes License this content You need to be a subscriber to join the conversation. Find out more here. Log In Subscribe Advertisement More Stories