Easy

The tapenade can also be served as a dip for crudités or a zesty sauce for grilled fish. For best results, choose olives with distinctive flavors, such as those suggested below.

Pappardelle are long, flat, wide noodles; fettuccine or linguine work just as well. We recommend chopping the peas slightly before cooking them; otherwise, they have a tendency to roll off the pasta when you eat.

Broccoli, a cruciferous vegetable, contains significant amounts of vitamins A and C, as well as calcium, iron, and riboflavin.

If you like, grate some Parmesan cheese over the tossed pasta just before serving, or offer grated cheese on the side.

You can use six 2-cup gratin dishes to make individual servings. The baking time will be a bit shorter; cook until bubbling and golden.

If you have trouble finding caciocavallo cheese, you can substitute grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.

The pesto can be made up to 1 hour before serving without losing its freshness; store it at room temperature.