Potatoes and green beans cook in the same water as the pasta, in sequence. The potatoes release starch that binds the pesto to every strand. The beans add sweetness. The pesto goes on cold — never heated — and the residual heat of the pasta does the rest.…

Fava bean pesto (pesto di fave) is a delicious pesto from Liguria made by mashing fava beans with garlic, extra virgin olive oil, lemon and cheese.