Three Vegetable Penne with Tarragon-Basil Pesto

Ingredients

• 0.5 pound asparagus trimmed
• 1 cup basil 
• 1 Handful flat-leaf parsley 
• 1 clove garlic 
• 4 servings coarsely ground pepper black
• 0.3 pound haricots verts of stem ends trimmed thin green beans
• 1  lemon zest 
• 0.3 cup olive oil extra-virgin
• 0.5 cup parmigiano-reggiano grated plus more to pass at table
• 1 pound penne rigate with lines pasta
• 0.3 cup pinenuts 
• 4 servings salt 
• 0.5 cup tarragon leaves from 10 to 12 stems 
• 1 small zucchini 

Equipment

• food processor
• frying pan
• ladle
• pot

Directions

1. Watch how to make this recipe.
2. Heat a large pot of water to boil for pasta. Salt the water and add pasta to cook to al dente or, with a bite to it.
3. Cut asparagus spears into 2-inch pieces on an angle.
4. Cut zucchini into matchstick shapes.
5. Cut haricots verts or green beans into 2-inch pieces on an angle.
6. Add vegetables to pasta after penne has been cooking about 5 minutes. Cook veggies and pasta together 2 minutes. While pasta cooks, toast pine nuts in a small pan until golden, then cool.
7. Place nuts, basil, tarragon, parsley, lemon zest, garlic, cheese and a little salt and pepper in a food processor. Turn the processor on and stream in the extra-virgin olive oil until thick sauce forms. Scrape pesto into large, shallow serving dish.
8. Add a ladle of hot, starchy pasta water to the pesto.
9. Drain penne and veggies and add immediately to pesto. Toss to coat pasta and vegetables evenly. Adjust salt and pepper, to taste.
10. Serve with extra grated cheese to pass at table.;