Binging with Babish: Trenette Al Pesto from Luca

This week, we're taking a crack at a Ligurian classic, beautifully portrayed in Pixar's Luca: toothsome pasta tossed in a bright, fresh basil pesto, dotted with creamy potatoes and crisp green beans. How could I possibly screw this one up? Let's find out in the comments!

Music: "Summer Spliffs" by Broke for Free

My playlist of preferred cooking tunes, Bangers with Babish!

[JohnnieDarko]

“More familiar motion” is the most elegant way to describe that motion.

[babishculinaryuniverse]

I appreciate y’all’s patience last week when I had to skip the episode - in full transparency, I was struggling with my mental health. I talked with my therapist, got some exercise, laid off the unhealthy stuff, meditated, and gave my fingernails a fresh coat of paint - before I knew it, I was picking basil and mashing pine nuts again. That was my fix, and it won’t work for everyone - but if you’re struggling, please seek out the help you need, and try to show yourself a little compassion. You deserve it.

[gnolo]

Italian here, a little note for people watching this and trying to make the pesto: if you use a food processor, the warmth from the engine partially cooks the basil leaves during the process, and this causes the pesto to become bitter during the actual cooking time. This is one of the reasons to use the mortar, but you can also be careful and use pulses on your processr.

[michaelzarrad]

We’re going to ignore the “ familiar motion” babish was talking about

[illegalmemedealer]

This movie was so cool, if only Italians were real

[JohnRiggs]

Soon as I watched Luca and saw this dish I thought 'can't wait until we see Babish do this and eat a literal handful'. I was not disappointed.

[dandelionpuff]

Babish collecting ex-Bon Appétiters like infinity stones

[lizlemon]

One of these days, Babish is gonna break down and actually harvest his own wheat to make flour to make bread to make a sandwich from a sitcom that has peanut butter and anchovies in it. It will crush him, because all of that work was wasted, then he will improve upon it, and I will develop another level of respect for him. I am the Oracle, once it is spoken, it must come true.

[tdl]

Babish looking so proud of his herb garden is adorable.

[AllTheDimonds]

I love how Babish is basically just gathering all the BA people who left the company and is giving them shows of their own. Honestly at this point that that if Claire and Carla hadn't started their own things they'd be here too.

[nicholascosta]

Hey dude! I'm ligurian and I can say you did a perfect pesto !!
Thanks for this video.
Only one tiny little error on the final: more pesto in the pasta! The pasta must be green.
Ciao Babish

[zachariah]

"Not to mix, or scrape, but rather to pound. This is both going to produce a smoother, more creamy result, and it's an easier, shall we say, more *familiar motion* ."

BRUH

[knightofendor]

Surprised he didn’t make his own pasta. It’s like a first.

[mrsnufflegums]

Babish just stealing and working with all the former BA peeps who were done dirty at conde nast. mad respect.

[azyfloof]

I love that the reason for the painted nails didn't have some backstory, it was simply "I like how it looks" 💜

[centramind]

My family is from Liguria and Pesto is pretty much sacred to me. I must say, your execution makes me proud, you nail every step of the process and the recipe is *chef kiss* just right.
The only thing i would do differently? I usually make more pesto in proportion to the amount of pasta, but that's up to taste.

[pexilated]

“It’s an easier, shall we say, *more familiar motion* “

ANDREW BABISH REA

[BugsyFoga]

If this film didn't put you in the mood for pasta, than I don't know what will.

[CrazyEights]

3:40
"You ready? Okay."
And his little waiting dance lol. Too funny

[bose]

As an Italian, hearing English speakers attempt speaking Italian is definitely one of the most funny things you can hear