Step 1

To prepare the fusilli pasta with pistachio pesto and cherry tomatoes , begin with the pesto: Take the shelled pistachios and blanch them in boiling water for 5 minutes 1 , drain, and remove the dark skin 2 . Place the pistachios in a food processor and add oil 3 .

Step 2

Add the grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, the zest of half a lemon, half a clove of garlic, room-temperature water, salt and pepper, and the basil leaves 4 . Blitz until you get a smooth paste 5 . Now transfer the pistachio pesto to a bowl and set aside. In the meantime, boil the water for the pasta and add salt once it’s reached a boil. Then move on to the leek: Remove the root part 6 .

Step 3

Discard the tough outermost layer of the leek 7 and slice the rest into rounds 8 . Fry the leek in a pan with a little oil 9 .

Step 4

To keep the leek from burning, add hot water directly from the pasta pot to the pan 10 and let it stew. Wash the cherry tomatoes under running water and cut them into quarters 11 , then add to the leek 12 .

Step 5

Season with salt and pepper 13 and cover the pan with a lid 14 . Leave everything to cook over moderate heat for 10 minutes. The cherry tomatoes will break down to form a sauce. Add salt to the pasta water and bring it to a boil: Pour in the fusilli and cook for the time stated on the package 15 .

Step 6

By now, the sauce will be ready: Turn off the heat and add the pistachio pesto 16 , stir 17 , and pour over a ladleful of the pasta cooking water to combine everything well 18 .

Step 7

Drain the fusilli and pour into the pan with the sauce 19 , then turn up the heat for a few moments as you coat everything in the sauce 20 . Serve your fusilli pasta with pistachio pesto and cherry tomatoes 21 !