Rachael's Daytime Talk Show
Spaghetti with Creamy Spring Pea Pesto and Roasted Baby Meatballs -- 03/19/12

Spaghetti with Creamy Spring Pea Pesto and Roasted Baby Meatballs

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground pork or veal
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • 1/2 cup flat-leaf parsley, a couple of handfuls
  • 3 large cloves garlic, finely chopped, divided
  • 1 cup panko or fresh breadcrumbs
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup whole milk
  • 1/ 2 to 2/3 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, divided
  • 2 tablespoons plus 1/4 to 1/3 cup EVOO – Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 2 cups shelled spring peas or frozen organic peas, defrosted
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • 1/2 cup basil
  • 1/2 cup mint, a couple of small handfuls
  • 1/2 cup crème fraiche
  • 1 pound spaghetti
  • 1 cup chicken stock

Yields: 4

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350ºF.

Step

Place meat in a mixing bowl. On a cutting board, combine zest with parsley and 2 cloves of garlic and finely chop together to make a gremolata. Add gremolata and breadcrumbs to the meat along with egg, milk, salt, pepper, 1/4 to 1/3 cup grated cheese and about 2 tablespoons EVOO. Combine meatballs and roll into walnut-sized balls. Arrange on a nonstick baking sheet and roast 15 minutes or until cooked through.

Step

Place a large pot of water on stove to boil for spaghetti.

Step

Simmer peas in stock, covered; 5 minutes if raw, 2 minutes if frozen. Remove from heat. Add 1 cup peas to a food processor. Once peas are cooled to room temperature, add remaining clove of garlic, basil, mint, salt, pepper, 1/4 to 1/3 cup EVOO, and cheese. Process into a pesto sauce.

Step

Return peas and stock to heat, bring to a low simmer and stir in crème fraiche. Keep warm over low heat and let thicken.

Step

Cook spaghetti in salted boiling water to al dente. Remove 1/2 cup of starchy cooking water then drain pasta.

Step

Stir pesto into creamy peas and combine with pasta and meatballs.