If there is one thing I always do while traveling, it’s stocking up on ingredients from around the world. This time I came home from Italy with a bag of trofie pasta crammed into my extra suitcase (yes, i brought a seperate empty suitcase just for ingredients).
I’d actually never cooked with trofie before, but that’s one of my favorite parts of traveling. I love discovering an ingredient I’m unfamiliar with and then diving into its history and learning how locals have been cooking it. In Liguria, pesto isn’t just tossed with pasta. It’s traditionally served with potatoes and green beans too. As someone who firmly believes potatoes belong in almost everything… I was immediately sold.
This simple dish is proof that some of the world’s greatest recipes don’t need dozens of ingredients. Fresh basil, good olive oil, garlic, pine nuts, comfort veggies, and some starchy pasta water come together to create an Italian comfort dish.
What is Trofie al Pesto?
Trofie al Pesto is one of the signature dishes of Liguria, the coastal region of northwest Italy that’s also the birthplace of Pesto alla Genovese. Trofie is a short, twisted pasta traditionally made by hand. Its spiral shape is perfect for catching every bit of pesto. The classic preparation combines:
- Trofie pasta
- Pesto alla Genovese
- Yukon gold potatoes
- Green beans
It might sound unusual if you’ve never had pasta with potatoes before, but trust me, this dish is straight fire.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- 🇮🇹 Traditional Ligurian recipe
- 🌱 Naturally vegan
- 🥔 Potatoes, duh
- 🍝 Ready in 30 minutes
- 🥣 One pot
