
Creamy Tortiglioni with Roasted Celery, Goat Cheese and Pistachio with Lemon, Honey and Tarragon
An original, elegant pasta where roasted celery becomes a silky sauce blended with goat cheese, garlic, and a splash of pasta water. It is finished with toasted pistachios, lemon zest, fresh tarragon, and a subtle drizzle of honey for balance.
Ingredients
- 320 g tortiglioni pasta (dry)
- 500 g celery (without leaves duras, en trozos of 3 cm)
- 4 cloves garlic (pelados)
- 45 ml olive oil (divided)
- 8 g salt (or to taste, divided)
- 2 g black pepper (freshly ground)
- 150 g soft goat cheese (at room temperature)
- 40 g grated Parmesan (more extra optional for servir)
- 1 unit lemon (zest fina and 30 ml/2 tbsp of juice)
- 15 ml honey (suave)
- 35 g pistachios (tostados and chopped gruesos)
- 8 g fresh tarragon (chopped)
- 240 ml pasta cooking water (reservada as needed sea necesario)
Nutrition facts
per serving
Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.
Allergens
Instructions
- 1
1. Preheat the oven to 220 °C / 425 °F. Place the celery and garlic cloves on a sheet pan, toss with 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and the black pepper. Roast for 22 to 25 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the celery is tender with golden edges.
- 2
2. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the remaining salt. Cook the tortiglioni until al dente according to package directions, usually 10 to 12 minutes. Reserve 1 cup / 240 ml of the cooking water and drain the pasta.
- 3
3. Transfer the roasted celery and garlic to a blender or food processor. Add the goat cheese, Parmesan, lemon juice and zest, honey, and 1/2 cup / 120 ml of the pasta water. Blend until very smooth and creamy. Add more pasta water gradually if needed to adjust the texture.
- 4
4. Heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Pour in the celery sauce and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring, until hot and silky.
- 5
5. Add the tortiglioni to the skillet and toss well to coat. Add a little more pasta water if you want a looser, glossier sauce.
- 6
6. Turn off the heat and add the chopped pistachios and fresh tarragon, reserving a small amount of both for finishing. Toss gently.
- 7
7. Serve immediately topped with the remaining pistachios, tarragon, and extra Parmesan if desired.
Chef tips
For an especially smooth sauce, blend for an extra minute and strain if your celery was very fibrous. Toast the pistachios for 3 to 4 minutes in a dry skillet to deepen their flavor.
Substitutions
You can use another short pasta such as rigatoni or mezzi rigatoni. Tarragon can be replaced with parsley or chives, though the flavor profile will change. If you do not have Parmesan, use mild Pecorino. For a no-honey version, replace it with a few extra drops of lemon juice.
What I used to make it
Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.
Illustrative imageNinja Professional BL610 Blender
Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Easy-to-wash jar
- Check the power and jar size
Illustrative imageCosori Pro LE 5 Qt Air Fryer
Browning and baking with little oil
- Browns food with very little oil
- Handy for vegetables, chicken and reheating
- Check the basket capacity
Illustrative imageT-fal Ultimate Hard Anodized 12" Non-Stick Pan
Eggs, omelets and stir-fries
- Eggs and omelets that don’t stick
- Comfortable, sturdy handle
- Use wooden or silicone utensils
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