Pasta with Tomato, Pine Nut and Arugula Pesto

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup pine nuts
• 12 ounces cherry or grape tomatoes (about 2 1/2 cups)
• 3/4 cup arugula, lightly packed
• 1 medium garlic clove, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 1 teaspoon)
• 1s mall pepperoncini (hot peppers in vinegar), stemmed, seeded, and minced (about 1/2 teaspoon) (see note)
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 1/4 teaspoons grated lemon zest
• Table salt
• Pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 pound pasta, preferably linguine or spaghetti
• 1 ounce Parmesan cheese, grated (about 1/2 cup), plus extra for serving
• SERVES 4 TO 6
• A half teaspoon of red wine vinegar and ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes can be substituted for the pepperoncini. If you don’t have a food processor, a blender may be substituted. In step 2, pulse ingredients until roughly chopped, then proceed with the recipe, reducing processing times by half.

Instructions

1. Toast almonds in small skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until pale golden and fragrant, 2 to 4 minutes. Cool almonds to room temperature.
2. Process cooled pine nuts, tomatoes, arugula, garlic, pepperoncini, 1 teaspoon salt, zest, lemon juice, and red pepper flakes (if using) in food processor until smooth, about 1 minute. Scrape down sides of bowl with rubber spatula. With machine running, slowly drizzle in oil, about 30 seconds.
3. Meanwhile, bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot. Add pasta and 1 tablespoon salt and cook until al dente. Reserve ½ cup cooking water; drain pasta and transfer back to cooking pot.
4. Add pesto and ½ cup Parmesan to cooked pasta, adjusting consistency with reserved pasta cooking water so that pesto coats pasta. Serve immediately, passing Parmesan separately.