A Weeknight Pasta That Finds Freedom in the Familiar

There’s so much opportunity in a kitchen rut, Yotam Ottolenghi writes, and this generous pasta-bean-pesto dish proves just that.

LONDON — “What’s for dinner?” It’s a question we ask ourselves (or is asked of us) every day. The intonation varies. Some days, it’s energized anticipation: “What’s for dinner?! The world is our oyster: Where shall we go?” Other days, it’s a bit less of an exclamation, and more a case of standing in front of the fridge and wondering, “What on earth is for dinner?” Chances are, it’s dried pasta. Add pesto and some grated Parmesan, and it’s a job done.