Ingredients:
Split Pea Pesto:
1 cup dry green split peas
2 1/4 cups water, divided
1/4 cup tightly packed fresh basil leaves
1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 to 2 cloves garlic, minced (to taste)
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
12 ounces jumbo pasta shells
Marinara sauce, for serving
Directions:
Combine the split peas and 2 cups of the water in a small saucepan over high heat, and bring them to a boil. Once boiling, lower the heat and cover to let the peas simmer until tender, about 25 to 30 minutes. Drain and rinse the cooked peas and transfer them to the bowl of a large food processor.
Use the same pot to cook your jumbo shells according to the directions on the package. (I like to do this while making the pesto, so that everything is ready at about the same time.) Preheat the oven to 350ºF and spread a bit of the marinara sauce at the bottom of a 9″x 13″ glass baking dish. Set it aside.
