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Farfalle with Pistachio Cream Sauce

December 27, 2006 by Nicole 48 Comments

Pasta with Pistachio Pesto

This Sicilian pistachio pasta dish is one of my absolute favorites! My pasta with pistachio cream sauce recipe requires only a handful of ingredients making it perfect for a weeknight meal, but it’s delicious enough to impress guests at a dinner party as well.

People keep asking me why, if I’m living in Sicily, I haven’t posted any Italian or Sicilian recipes on this site. Well, the answer is simple. I just don’t cook Italian food at home that often because I can go out and get really good pasta or pizza anytime I want.

In fact, it’s pretty difficult to find restaurants in Sicily that serve anything but Italian food. I absolutely love the food here, but we like to experiment with different things at home. 

However, many of my recipes have been influenced by the foods that are readily available here and new cooking techniques that I have picked up over the last few years. 

While the recipes you find here might not be Italian, many of them are born from my culinary experiences here in Sicily.

However, there are a few Sicilian dishes I like to make at home that I will definitely be sharing with you over time and hopefully the list will continue to grow. One of my favorites is this Pasta con Pesto al Pistacchio or Pasta with Pistachio Sauce.

Variations of this dish can be found in most restaurants here, but this recipe that I learned during a cooking class is my favorite version. The best part is that it’s really fast and simple to make!

Pistachios from Bronte, Sicily

The pistachios grown here in Sicily are prized for their brilliant green color and are exported throughout the world. The majority of the nuts come from Bronte, an area situated on the base of Mount Etna.

In the United States it seems that pistachios are most often eaten out of hand, but Sicilians use pistachios in a wide variety of both sweet and savory treats. 

Perhaps most famous is the pistachio gelato, which I believe is the best gelato flavor in the world. But you will also find several types of pistachio cakes, cookies, candies and pastries. Of the savory dishes, this pasta is my favorite.

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Farfalle with Pistachio Cream Sauce

Farfalle with Pistachio Cream Sauce

Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces farfalle or penne pasta
  • 1/2 medium white or yellow onion, chopped
  • 1/4 C. ground pistachios (unsalted nuts, ground in a blender or food processor)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (plus a little extra)
  • 1/2 - 3/4 C. heavy cream (according to taste)
  • crushed red pepper, to taste
  • salt, to taste
  • fresh ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

    1. Bring a pot of salted water to boil. 

    2. In the meantime, chop onion and grind the pistachios in a food processor until the pieces are very small but not completely uniform. Add pasta to water and boil according to package directions.

    3. While pasta is cooking, begin sauce: heat olive oil in a medium saute pan, add onion and cook until translucent but not browned. 

    4. Add pistachios and enough oil to moisten them (if needed). It should be a paste-like consistency.  Cook, stirring, over medium heat for about one minute (do not let the pistachios take on any color). 

    5. Add cream, stir until heated through, then remove from heat. Add a pinch of crushed red pepper, black pepper and plenty of salt to taste.

    6. When pasta is al dente, drain well then add to the saute pan with the sauce. Toss well to coat and serve immediately with lots of fresh grated Parmigiano Reggiano.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 326Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 186mgCarbohydrates: 32gFiber: 3gSugar: 2gProtein: 8g
© Nicole Cross
Category: Main Courses

Filed Under: Main Courses, Vegetarian

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Malia says

    August 1, 2012 at 2:39 pm

    I can't believe that this cream base sauce is that simple. I returned from Sicily this past Sunday, so I am anxious to test out your recipe. I did bring back ground up pistacio nuts specifically to try to mimic this dish. I tried this dish at a handful of restaurants to see if the taste would vary, but to my surprise it was all very consistent. I have not been a big pistachio fan, but I am a believer now!
    Reply
  2. Maria says

    October 23, 2012 at 11:16 am

    I was just in Sicily this summer and I just love this dish! Brings back memories of fun times. Can't wait to go again, Thanks
    Reply
  3. David says

    April 14, 2014 at 5:04 pm

    I have been to Sicily and this absolutely my favorite pasta that I ever had! It's so creamy and delicious! It's a must try if you love pasta at all!!
    Reply
  4. Sonja says

    July 15, 2014 at 5:27 pm

    Can you use this same sauce for the pistachio pizza that I used to love eating from a restruant there in Motta. The pasta and the pizza are the two things that I reallc miss about living in Sicily.
    Reply
  5. Deborah Eckerd says

    October 14, 2016 at 1:32 pm

    I have been looking for a recipe like this since I went to Sicily in 2002. I had penne in pistachio cream sauce at a restaurant in Bel Passo. It was amazing. I am going to have to try this version soon. Thanks
    Reply
  6. Kasey at babieswithbackpacks.com says

    October 9, 2017 at 7:50 am

    Living in Sicily now and I love this recipe! So delicious.
    Reply
  7. Sherri Clark says

    December 4, 2020 at 9:07 pm

    We lived in Motta for two almost 2 years and loved every minute of it. I adored the people who made us feel like literal family! I loved Sicily’s majestic varied county. The fresh fruits and vegetables were delicious and fruit succulent. My favorite food there was Pistachio sauced pasta and pizza. I’m hoping to make my own here in the US finding the pistachio from Bronte! I’m going to make both dishes for my husband’s Christmas present. He will be sooooo excited.
    Reply
    • Nicole says

      December 6, 2020 at 9:55 am

      Sherri - Thanks so much for your comment! I miss Motta and all the entire island of Sicilia. I hope you enjoy this pasta and that it reminds you of your time there! :-)
      Reply
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