Italian Recipe - Papi's Penne Pasta with Pistachio Cream Sauce

This is another Italian recipe that was passed down to me.  Its great for early after school dinners and the like.  The kids eat it up, I think because the cream gives it a sweeter flavor.

Ingredients

8 oz. Penne pasta 

1/2 Medium white or yellow onion, chopped 

1/4 cup Ground pistachio (unsalted, ground in a blender or food processor) 

2 tbsp olive oil (I add a little extra) 

1/2 - 3/4 cup heavy cream (according to taste) 

crushed red pepper 

salt 

fresh ground black pepper 

Italian Cooking

1. Bring a pot of salted water to boil. 
   
2. In the meantime, chop onion and grind the pistachios until the pieces are small, but not pulverized 
   
3. Add pasta to water and boil. 
   
4. While pasta is cooking, begin sauce. 
   
5. Heat olive oil in a medium saute pan, add onion and cook until translucent but not browned. 
   
6. Add pistachios and enough oil to moisten them (if needed). It should be paste-like in consistency. 
   
7. Cook, stirring, over medium heat for about one minute (do not let the pistachios brown at all). 
   
8. Add cream, stir until heated through, then remove from heat. 
   
9. Add crushed red pepper, black pepper, and salt, a bit at a time, until you have the taste you like. 
   
10. When pasta is al dente, drain well then add to the saute pan with the sauce. Toss well to coat and serve immediately. 
    

Fresh grated Parmigiano Reggiano is the perfect finishing touch for this Italian recipe.  Serve with fresh cut Italian bread, or any other side you would serve normally with pasta.