Pea Pesto

Pea pesto is a fresh and easy twist on regular pesto and perfect for spring! It’s made by blending sweet peas with basil, garlic, lemon, and a little parm. The result is a smooth, bright green sauce that tastes a bit sweet and super fresh. You can spread it on toast, mix it into pasta, or use it as a dip—it's tasty any way you try it.

INGREDIENTS:
1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more to taste  
1 onion diced 
2 garlic cloves, minced 
1 10oz bag of green peas, fresh or frozen
Salt to taste
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, plus more to taste 
4oz of basil, leaves removed from the stems

DIRECTIONS:
Heat a pan on medium heat and begin sweating the diced onion in one tablespoon of olive oil. Cook until the onions are translucent and slightly caramelized. 

Add the 2 cloves garlic, 10oz peas, and salt to taste and cook for a few minutes more, until the peas are cooked through. Turn off the heat and stir in zest of 1 lemon. 

Meanwhile cook your pasta of choice according to the packaging instructions. Transfer pea the mixture to a blender or blend with an immersion blender. Add lemon juice, about 1/4 cup pasta water, more salt and pepper to taste, and 1/2 cup grated parmesan, and blend until smooth. Taste the mixture and adjust seasoning as needed. Wait to blend the basil in until it cools - if you’re impatient you can add an ice cube or two.  

Blend the 4 oz basil in with the pea mixture and adjust seasoning if needed once more. 

Use as a sauce for pasta, on toast, or on roasted veg!