Lemon Basil Pesto Tagliatelle with Okra

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Last Updated on November 13, 2019 by Chef Mireille

Lemon Basil PastaI love going to the Union Square Farmer’s Market on Saturdays. Even though it’s open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays also, Saturday is the day that all of the purveyors come. Farmers come with all sorts of unique produce that is never available at the regular supermarkets. All sorts of herb varieties like pineapple mint, apple mint and lemon basil, not to mention the variety of vegetables, fruits and grains. This is the largest farmer’s market in New York City and if you are a foodie, this is one place that you must visit.

Among other things, I came home with a big bunch of lemon basil. The leaves of firmer than Italian sweet basil, but they have a refreshing citrus & minty flavor that is perfect for the season. I decided to make a pesto with it, which became the sauce for today’s pasta dish.

Okra is not in season right now so it has been very difficult to locate fresh okra. Too bad I realized this after I had decided on the okra theme for this week’s BM one vegetable, three ways. I had to resort to frozen okra. Some vegetables had virtually no difference between frozen and fresh. Okra is not one of them. It loses all its flavor. However, I balanced this lack of flavor with fresh tomatoes and summer corn from the market. With these fresh ingredients, you won’t notice the lack of flavor in the frozen okra but still get all of the health benefits that okra provides. If you can get your hands on fresh okra, definitely use that for a more flavorful dish.

Lemon Basil Pesto Tagliatelle with Okra

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Yield: Serves 4

Pesto Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups lemon basil leaves, firmly packed
  • 1/2 cup mint leaves, firmly packed
  • 2 crushed garlic cloves
  • 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup grated Asiago cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

Pasta Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup lemon basil pesto
  • 1 corn cob
  • 1 chopped tomato
  • 1 1/2 cups frozen cut okra, defrosted
  • 4 oz. cooked tagliatelle pasta
  • salt, to taste
  • 2 tablespoon grated Asiago cheese, divided

Bring 6 cups of water to a boil. Add lemon basil and mint. Boil for 2 minutes, until leaves are wilted. Drain and reserve liquid. Use the reserved liquid to make a refreshing iced tea.

In a blender or food processor, combine drained lemon basil and mint leaves with the garlic. Chop in the blender. Slowly add the olive oil until everything is pureed. Add cheese, salt and pepper. Process until smooth.

pesto -edit

With a sharp knife, cut the kernels off of the corn cob.

To make pasta, head 1/4 cup of pesto in a wide skillet. Add corn and tomato. Saute for 3 minutes. Add okra and another 1/4 cup of the pesto. Saute for 5 minutes.

Add pasta and salt. Toss to coat. Add cheese and toss until combined.

pasta -edit

To serve, garnish with more cheese.

Okra -edit

Notes:

If you don’t have access to lemon basil, use sweet Italian basil and add zest of 1 lemon plus 1 tablespoon lemon juice to the pesto instead.

Serve with the refreshing iced tea.

Lemon Basil Pasta -edit

Lemon Basil Pasta
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Lemon Basil Pesto Tagliatelle with Okra

Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes

Ingredients

  • Pesto Ingredients:
  • 1 1/2 cups lemon basil leaves firmly packed
  • 1/2 cup mint leaves firmly packed
  • 2 crushed garlic cloves
  • 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup grated Asiago cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • Pasta Ingredients:
  • 1/2 cup lemon basil pesto
  • 1 corn cob
  • 1 chopped tomato
  • 1 1/2 cups frozen cut okra defrosted
  • 4 oz. cooked tagliatelle pasta
  • salt to taste
  • 2 tablespoon grated Asiago cheese divided

Instructions

  • Bring 6 cups of water to a boil. Add lemon basil and mint. Boil for 2 minutes, until leaves are wilted. Drain and reserve liquid. Use the reserved liquid to make a refreshing iced tea.
  • In a blender or food processor, combine drained lemon basil and mint leaves with the garlic. Chop in the blender. Slowly add the olive oil until everything is pureed. Add cheese, salt and pepper. Process until smooth.
  • With a sharp knife, cut the kernels off of the corn cob.
  • To make pasta, head 1/4 cup of pesto in a wide skillet. Add corn and tomato. Saute for 3 minutes. Add okra and another 1/4 cup of the pesto. Saute for 5 minutes.
  • Add pasta and salt. Toss to coat. Add cheese and toss until combined.
  • To serve, garnish with more cheese.

Notes

If you don't have access to lemon basil, use sweet Italian basil and add zest of 1 lemon plus 1 tablespoon lemon juice to the pesto instead.
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Comments

  1. This is a very innovative dish Mir. Okra in pasta is something I’ve never thought before seeing this recipe — you are soooooo creative. Love all the flavors that went into this dish, I would love to try this one out.

  2. Isn’t it strange, the vegetable we take for grant and assume it is available year round suddenly becomes scarce. I remember you mentioning how you are unable to find fresh okra. Glad to know frozen worked for this recipe. Never thought of adding okra to pasta. Pasta looks so flavorful and that is one inviting plate you got there!!

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