Step into a world of flavor with Citrus Green Bean Pasta Salad! This dish welcomes you in with a celebration of fresh and vibrant ingredients that are sure to make your tastebuds feel right at home. Bouncy penne pasta, tender green beans, and peppery arugula come together in perfect harmony and make it all feel right. The addition of citrusy lemon zest, tangy vinegar, fresh shallots, and rich garlic adds a zingy and delicious punch to the mix that you’d expect. But what really sets this light and delicious dish apart is the sprinkle of the salty pistachios and sharp parmesan cheese on top, which brings a delightful crunch and savory hint to every bite. Citrus Green Bean Pasta Salad is truly out of this world, and your tastebuds will be glad you shipped them there!
Ingredients
- 12 ounces penne pasta
- 1/2 pound haricots verts green beans, cut in half lengthwise
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
- 5 teaspoons lemon zest, divided
- 1/4 cup roasted salted pistachios, plus more, to taste, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons champagne vinegar
- 1 tablespoon shallots, minced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon table salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 5 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 1/2 cups arugula, loosely packed
- parmesan cheese, to taste, grated
Directions
Step 1 –In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta to al dente according to the package directions.
Step 2 –Add the green beans to the pasta during the last 2 minutes of the cooking time.
Step 3 –Rinse the pasta mixture with cold water and drain.
Step 4 –In a large bowl, combine the pasta mixture, the thyme, and 3 teaspoons of the lemon zest and toss gently to combine.
Step 5 –In a small bowl, whisk the pistachios, the vinegar, the shallots, the garlic, the salt, the pepper, and the remaining lemon zest together.
Step 6 –Slowly pour the oil into the pistachio mixture, while whisking constantly, until it is blended.
Step 7 –Drizzle the pistachio sauce over the pasta mixture.
Step 8 –Add the arugula to the pasta mixture and toss gently to coat.
Step 9 –Sprinkle the top of the pasta salad with the remaining pistachios and the parmesan.
Step 10 –Serve.