This Cherry Mint Pistachio Pasta is a crazy (crazy delicious) way to celebrate this cherry season.
Summer & Pasta
Every summer I do love pasta. Well, this is a wrong statement. I do love pasta (as well as ice cream and salads) all year round.
However, a summer kind of pasta is something different. Fresh seasonal ingredients, plenty of herbs straight from your garden/pot, and light sauces.
Indeed, summer pasta doesn’t need to be paired with heavy and rich sauces. Fresh herbs like basil, parsley or thyme, lemon, walnuts, garlic, tomatoes, olive oil are pretty much the ingredients that would make a few awesome summer pasta ideas.
If you’re brave enough to have something whimsical, well, you’ve found the right place:)
Over the past few years, I’ve been making a sweet&savory kind of pasta at least once or twice during the summer. Don’t be scared though. When I’m referring to “sweet&savory”, I’m not talking about pasta as a dessert (Although it can be too). While seasonal fruit and berries give some subtle sweetness, herbs, seasonings, and cheese balance it out. As the result, you’ll get something that is hard to assign to a specific category. I call it summery pasta.
Cherry Mint Pistachio Pasta
Let me share some recipes from this blog, my friends.
If you feel like to start with a simple (and more traditional) combo, you might love this Strawberry Ricotta Basil Pasta, Fig Pasta, and Peach Raspberry Basil Pasta.
If you feel like having a more adventurous journey, I’ve got for you this Blackberry Lavender Pasta and Lemon Poppy Seed Pasta. With Limoncello. Yes, I do add alcohol too!
Perhaps, the most whimsical recipe so far has been Chocolate Pasta with Nutella Whiskey Sauce which is a main dish and dessert at the same time. Or, I should say, on the same plate.
Today I’ve brought this Cherry Mint Pistachio Pasta, and I hope you like this idea. And surprise, surprise – it has some alcohol as well. I see your excitement already! This time I incorporated some brandy (I’m a boring guy with a lack of imagination. Cherries mean brandy to me.)
Although this Cherry Mint Pistachio Pasta isn’t that crazy like few other ideas, it is fresh, luscious and delicious. No wonder. Pasta, lightly tart and sweet cherry sauce, a good hint of chocolate mint, and a lovely crunch of salted pistachios. Mmmm…sounds good? Also, I highly recommend topping this pasta with a generous dollop of ricotta.
In case you’ve never tried a sweet&savory kind of pasta yet (but would like to try), this Cherry Mint Pistachio Pasta might be the perfect one to start with.
Cherry Mint Pistachio Pasta
Notes
havocinthekitchen.com
Ingredients
- 2/3 - 1 cup small size pasta
- 1 cup cherries, pitted (whole or halved)
- 1 tbsp. salted butter
- 1/2 tsp. honey
- about 10 leaves of chocolate (or other) mint, chopped
- 1 tbsp brandy
- pistachios, to serve
- ricotta, to serve
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in salted boiling water as instructed, until al dente. Drain.
- In a meanwhile, in a small pan melt the butter. Add the mint and saute just for a minute to release the flavor.
- Add the cherries and honey and saute for 2-3 minutes (don't overcook - the cherries shouldn't be mushy). When the cherries are almost ready, splash the brandy and let the alcohol to evaporate for 15 seconds.
- Mix the pasta with the sauce and let stand for a minute.
- Serve sprinkled with the pistachios and topped with ricotta.
- Enjoy!
Hi – I’m Ben, a blogger, recipe developer, and food photographer. I’m glad you’re here! I hope you will enjoy hundreds of delicious recipes and a pinch of havoc in the kitchen.
I love pasta but I don’t it as often as I should, but that is something I want to completely change. And your cherry min pistachio pasta sounds so divine, that I want to try it right now. I agree that a summer pasta doesn’t need to be combined with heavy and rich sauces — fresh herbs can do the real magic. PS: I am loving your recipes made with cherry and mint.
Anu – My Ginger Garlic Kitchen recently posted…Homemade Schezwan Sauce | Video Recipe
Thank you Anu! Hopefully, you had a nice weekend.
Ben Maclain|Havocinthekitchen recently posted…Blackberry Lavender Dessert Soup
Ben, I’m going to miss all of your beautiful cherry recipes when cherry season is over. You’re so creative! I love the sound of this pasta. Pistachios + cherries + pasta–I think it’s hard to go wrong when I love all those ingredients so much! Have a great weekend, my friend!
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen recently posted…Easy Peanut Butter Mocha Ice Cream Cake
Thank you, Kelsie!
Ben Maclain|Havocinthekitchen recently posted…Blackberry Lavender Dessert Soup
Pasta + a good scoop of ricotta on top is totally the way I like to roll here, Ben! But I must admit that I’ve never thought about adding cherries and mint into pasta, too. I’m intrigued! I love cherry season, so I do look for all sorts of ways to use them. This sounds quite tasty, and I’m loving that hit of brandy you included in this one. And the shots with the flowers on top? Excellent!
David @ Spiced recently posted…Grilled Chicken Taco Wraps
Being from Scotland and naturally because of that a fan of whisky ;-) , I was immediately drawn to your chocolate pasta with nutella whiskey sauce recipe. But then again I see you’ve got brandy in this tasty recipe too, so as a fan of alcohol in ANY recipe, I just don’t know which one I’d choose. Both look and sound too delicious!
For some reason I don’t eat pasta too often, but SUMMER pastas are my faaaaavorite! And this one is just beautiful, Ben!!!! Such a fabulous way to celebrate summer’s bounty! And I love that you kept it light (my beach body goals thank you for that!)! I definitely need to make this soon! Cheers, buddy!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary recently posted…Grilled Honey Lemon Chicken Skewers with Arugula & Basil Salad