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posted by odile | category:basil, cashew, cheese, garlic, lemon, nuts, pesto, reggianito, sunflower seed
I realize that may be a bit pompous to say, but honestly, this is a rather foolproof delicious pesto. I’ve been rather fed up with the pestos I’ve found as of late. They’re all ‘too’ something: too oil; too yellow; too spiced; too bland; too thin; and so on. Finding a pesto that’s got the proper taste, consistency, and colour is rather difficult, and I’m hard-pressed to find that combination. Sauces and Love has a wonderful pesto but unfortunately it’s quite pricey for a small quantity.
I recently purchased an adorable basil plant- local and organic- at the grocery store for $3 and was very excited about the prospect of my indoor fresh herbs… but the lack of direct sunlight meant this was an unsuccessful attempt. Oh, no! Dying basil plant! Clearly there was only one thing I could do: emergency pesto. Luckily, it turned out completely and utterly delicious. I know this is a recipe I’ll be following again- and soon- because that first batch is almost gone already :). It’s terrific with some plain fresh capellini and a light drizzle of olive oil. Perfecto!
The Perfect Pesto
Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup chopped basil (coarse)
- 1/4 tsp minced garlic
- 1/2 cup grated fresh Reggianito cheese
- 1 heaping tablespoon fresh grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
- 1 tsp sea salt, sprinkling of pepper
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon sunflower seeds
- 1/2 tsp lemon juice
- 1/4 cup salted cashews, coarsely chopped
Process:
- Place all ingredients in food processor
- Process on low until all elements are combined and a thick paste-like consistency is formed; do not overprocess to where all the cheese and nut bits are gone- keep a bit of coarseness!
- Spread onto some freshly toasted ciabatta or mix into hot pasta with a bit of extra olive oil for a yummy, delicious time
So simple! So good! So sure to be making this one again soon! Actually, I’m tempted to get a ton of basil, some cute jars, and jar some of this as christmas or holiday gifts… nice packaging will make this have the perfect touch. Seriously, make some. It’s so much cheaper than buying t at the store, and likely to be more delicious, as well! Pine nuts are the traditional nut for pesto, but I almost like it better this way :).
