This morning Maddie was eating this dish (yes, for breakfast) and I remarked, “When I was a kid we didn’t eat pesto.”
She asked me what we ate instead.
“Oh, we ate Spaghettios, Fluff-N-Nutter sandwiches on Wonder Bread, Steak-ums, American Goulash (homemade Hamburger Helper), Campbell’s Tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwiches (on Wonder bread with Kraft singles and margarine). I could go on.
All that sodium, those chemicals & preservatives and look how great WE turned out!
If I’d known how easy this stuff was to make I’d have made it years ago. Try it – it’s very easy and beautiful and you’ll love the results. (Note to Libby: you can get all the ingredients at Trader Joe’s.)
All you need is:
INGREDIENTS:
30 large leaves or 60 small leaves fresh basil
generous pinch of salt
2 cloves of garlic, peeled
3 TBSP pine nuts, toasted
4 TBSP olive oil
4 TBSP parmesan reggiano, grated
1. Add basil, salt & garlic to blender and blend into a thick paste. You might find you need to add 2 TBSP of the olive oil to get it going.
I used coarse sea salt but I prefer using fine sea salt as the coarse didn’t chop up well in my blender and I got a few bites of it when I ate. If you have a powerful blender or food processor you’ll have no problem!
2. Add pine nuts and remaining 2 TBSP olive oil & blend some more. Add cheese and blend till you have a creamy pesto sauce.
Serve on pasta, as a pizza topping, smeared on crusty bread, or tossed in a salad!
Shock of shocks – both my kids love this! Even G loves it. Holy cow.
Try it next time you make Summer Pizza!
- 30 large leaves or 60 small leaves fresh basil
- generous pinch of salt
- 2 cloves of garlic, peeled
- 3 TBSP pine nuts, toasted
- 4 TBSP olive oil
- 4 TBSP parmesan reggiano, grated
- Combine basil leaves, salt & garlic in blender or food processor.
- Add 2 TBSP olive oil & pine nuts & combine further.
- Add last 2 TBSP olive oil & cheese and blend until smooth & creamy.
- Toss with pasta, salads or smear over crusty bread. YUM!
Slightly adapted from Lidia Bastianich.
3 comments on Basil Pesto
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Lib
March 16, 2012 at 10:47 am (4617 days ago)Note to Tina: I’ll be making this! lol Even G eats it? I’m in…..
Lynn Flowers
March 16, 2012 at 10:52 am (4617 days ago)This is great! I’ll be making some nicec pesto pizza this weekend!
Christina
March 16, 2012 at 11:27 am (4617 days ago)Thanks for reminding me, Lynn!!! Check out this summer pizza (is March summer?) http://coxfitzchronicles.com/?p=1476