Surprise Your Tastebuds With Spring Pea Pesto and Burrata Bruschetta

Pulsing just half of the peas and folding in the rest whole gives you a lovely, textural pesto with clean, bright flavors. It’s a nice afternoon snack or pre-dinner bite, or transform it into a meal by tossing the pesto and some roughly chopped burrata with spaghetti and serve the ciabatta on the side.

Bruschetta with Spring Pea Pesto and Burrata

Serves: 4

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves
• 1 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves
• 8 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• Kosher salt
• 4 1/2-inch-thick slices ciabatta bread
• 1 small shallot, finely chopped
• 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
• 1 1/2 cups shelled fresh English peas (from 1 1/2 pounds peas in the pod)
• 4 ounces burrata or fresh mozzarella, at room temperature
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. In a small food processor, combine the basil, mint, 5 tablespoons of the oil, the lemon zest, and juice and process until nearly smooth. Season to taste with salt. Leave the mixture in the food processor.
3. Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of the oil over the ciabatta and season with salt. Grill the ciabatta for about 3 minutes per side, or until lightly toasted and grill marks form. Transfer to a plate.
4. Heat a medium heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the remaining
2 tablespoons oil, then add the shallot and garlic and sauté for about
 2 minutes, or until tender and translucent. Add the peas and cook for about 5 minutes, or until they are cooked through but still crisp-tender. Remove from the heat.
5. Add half of the warm pea mixture to the pesto and pulse until the peas are coarsely chopped. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and fold in the remaining warm pea mixture. Season with salt.
6. Divide the burrata among the bruschetta and season with salt and pepper. Spoon the pesto over, sprinkle with the Parmesan, and serve immediately.