Pesto Primavera with Smoked Turkey

All good things come back around in due time. This time, it was pesto primavera with smoked turkey. It’s been awhile since I last made pesto primavera, and it was long over due. 🙂 Of course it is different every time I make it. I use the vegetables I have on hand at the time, as well as whatever meats I have available at the time too. I also change my pestos around. Sometimes I use pine nuts, sometimes I use macadamia nuts, sometimes I use almonds. Sometimes I use cilantro. Bottom line, this is a very versatile dish and there are no set rules. Just use what you have and have fun.

You would think with a name like pasta primavera that it was originally an Italian dish. Nope. It was actually created in New York City in the 1970’s at Le Cirque Restaurant. It means spring pasta because of all the vegetables used to make the dish. It became a symbol of the 1970s and 80s, representing a shift towards lighter, fresher cuisine. It’s now a common dish, with many variations, but the core concept remains: a celebration of spring’s bounty with pasta and seasonal vegetables.

This time I made my pesto with almonds instead of pine nuts. As much as I LOVE pine nuts, they are getting so expensive, I don’t use them nearly as much as I used to. I look for other alternatives. It’s a shame too, because I love pine nuts. But then I love all kinds of nuts, so it is not a difficult decision to make. It just allows me to be more creative and to play with my food more. 🙂 Pesto sauce is a favorite of mine, and I use it for a lot of different dishes and recipes. Here are a few of my pesto creations. Southwestern Pesto Chicken, Presto Pesto Chicken, Mexican Pesto, Pesto Pasta Salad, Pesto Tomato Focaccia

I also switch my vegetables around, though I have my go-to standards that I use most of the time. This time it was mushrooms, yellow heirloom tomatoes, red bell pepper, red onion and zucchini. I like a lot of color and texture, and I like to use as many different vegetables as I can. I mix and match my pastas too. I tried a trottole pasta this time. They were fun and different.

Cook the vegetables , except for the tomato, first in a hot skillet with olive oil, salt & pepper until they are al dente.

Add the turkey slices and mix together thoroughly. Cook for about 5 or so minutes, or until the turkey is heated through. My turkey was already cooked and I was just heating it up. We smoked the turkey awhile ago and froze it until we were ready to use it again. If using raw turkey or chicken, definitely make sure it is fully cooked before serving it.

Add the tomatoes at the end of the cooking process and mix together well. Then plate it all up with the pasta and the pesto. Top with some Parmigiano cheese if you alike and presto, dinner is ready and delicious. Complete the meal with a cool, crisp white wine and garlic bread if you like, and you have the perfect meal.

All good things come back to us, and that definitely includes good meals too.

Have a great day and make everyday great. Stay safe and stay well. ‘Til next time.