Pasta with Creamy Pistachio & Guanciale Sauce

Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 4 servings

This elegant pasta features a homemade pistachio pesto crafted from Absolutely Nuts Unroasted 100% Pistachio Paste, blended with olive oil, salt, and pepper for a pure, vibrant pistachio flavor. Combined with cream, guanciale, and a splash of brandy, it creates a velvety, restaurant-quality sauce ready in minutes.

Ingredients

• 300 g pasta (rigatoni, caserecce, penne, or your preferred shape)

• 100 g Absolutely Nuts Unroasted 100% Pistachio Paste

• 3–4 tbsp olive oil

• Salt, to taste

• Black pepper, to taste

• 160 g fresh cream

• 40 g butter

• 30 g onion, finely diced

• 10 g guanciale (or pancetta), diced

• ½ glass brandy

• (Optional) Chopped Shelled Pistachios for serving

Instructions

1. Bring water to a boil.
   Fill a large pot with water, salt generously, and bring to a boil for the pasta.

2. Dice the onion.
   Peel and finely dice the onion; set aside.

3. Make the pistachio pesto.
   In a small bowl, whisk together the Absolutely Nuts Unroasted 100% Pistachio Paste, olive oil, salt, and pepper until smooth and spoonable. Add more olive oil if needed to adjust the consistency.

4. Start the sauce.
   Melt the butter in a wide pan over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté until soft and translucent.

5. Cook the guanciale.
   Add the guanciale and cook until lightly crisped and fragrant.

6. Add the pistachio pesto.
   Stir the homemade pistachio pesto into the pan, warming it gently for 1–2 minutes so it blends with the butter and guanciale.

7. Deglaze with brandy.
   Pour in the brandy and let it simmer for about a minute to cook off the alcohol.

8. Add the cream.
   Reduce the heat and stir in the fresh cream until the sauce is silky and cohesive. Taste and adjust salt as needed.

9. Cook the pasta.
   Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente. Reserve a small amount of pasta water, then drain.

10. Combine pasta and sauce.
    Toss the hot pasta into the sauce, adding a splash of pasta water as needed for a glossy, smooth finish.

11. Serve.
    Plate immediately and top with chopped Absolutely Nuts Shelled Pistachios for extra texture and aroma.