Basil And Dried Tomato Pesto Food

SICILIAN TOMATO PESTO

Steps:

• Heat a dry, medium skillet over medium heat. Add the almonds and toast, stirring often, until golden, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate to cool.
• Combine the cooled almonds, tomatoes, basil, parsley, mint, red pepper flakes, garlic and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a food processor. Pulse, adding a little bit of the oil at a time, until everything is finely chopped and emulsified. Add the Parmesan and pulse to incorporate. Season with salt to taste.
• Transfer to a serving bowl and serve with the toasted baguette slices. Any leftover pesto can be kept refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO PESTO

Steps:

• Blend all the ingredients in a food processor except the olive oil. Start the food processor and drizzle in the olive oil slowly while still mixing. Stop the machine, scrape down the sides, and adjust salt nad pepper to liking.
• STORING: leftover pesto can be stored in a jar that has a tight fitting lid. Pesto can be refrigerated for up to one week. You can also place pesto into ice cube molds and frozen for up to 2 months.

PENNE WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATO PESTO

Steps:

• Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
• Meanwhile, blend the sun-dried tomatoes and their oil, garlic, salt and pepper, to taste, and basil in a food processor and blend until the tomatoes are finely chopped. Transfer the tomato mixture to a large bowl. Stir in the Parmesan.
• Add the pasta to the pesto and toss to coat, adding enough reserved cooking liquid to moisten. Season the pasta, to taste, with salt and pepper and serve.

TOMATO PESTO

Steps:

• Combine the tomatoes, garlic, basil, olive oil, vinegar, and salt and pepper, to taste, in a blender and puree until smooth. Add the cheese and blend briefly just to mix. Transfer to a bowl and adjust the seasoning.

TOMATO & BASIL SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the butter or oil in a large pan, then add the garlic and soften for a few minutes over a low heat. Add the sundried or SunBlush tomatoes, canned tomatoes, stock, sugar and seasoning, then bring to a simmer. Let the soup bubble for 10 mins until the tomatoes have broken down a little.
• Whizz with a stick blender, adding half the pot of soured cream as you go. Taste and adjust the seasoning - add more sugar if you need to. Serve in bowls with 1 tbsp or so of the pesto swirled on top, a little more soured cream and scatter with basil leaves.

LAYERED SUN-DRIED TOMATO AND BASIL PESTO DIP

Steps:

• Spread whipped cream cheese in serving dish (best if done at room temp).
• Top with pesto, then sun-dried tomatoes.
• Sprinkle with pine nuts.
• Serve with pita chips or crackers. Yum!

BASIL PESTO STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATO CREAM

Steps:

• For Pesto, wash basil and remove stems. In food processor mix basil, garlic, pine nuts, pepper and Parmesan. Blend until smooth and slowly add oil.
• Pound chicken breasts to 1/4 inch thickness. Place one slice prosciutto and 1 T. pesto on chicken breast. Tuck in ends and roll jelly style. Secure with toothpicks.
• Drizzle with 2 T. lemon juice, chopped garlic and olive oil. You may either grill these or bake at 350 for 30 minute.
• While breasts are cooking make basil cream.
• Sauté shallots in butter. Add wine and bring to a boil.
• Cook until liquid is reduced to 1/4 cup Add cream and return to boil. Cook 8- 10 minute or until sauce is reduced to 1 cup.
• Whisk continually, add tomatoes and cook 2 minute Whisk in basil and lemon.
• Cook until heated thoroughly. To thicken sauce add cornstarch mixture slowly.
• Remove toothpick and cut the chicken breasts in slices to show off the center. Drizzle the chicken with sauce.
• **Serve this with your choice of pasta and dbl the sauce, or when it's just Dereck and I, I only make 2 chicken breasts and there is enough sauce for our pasta.

BASIL AND DRIED TOMATO PESTO

Steps:

• Place basil leaves, tomatos, pine nuts, roughly chopped parmesan or pecorino, garlic and 250 ml olive oil in a food processor.
• Process until everything is very finely processed.
• Try if it's enough garlic; if not, add more to taste.
• Add more olive oil, until you get a very smooth paste.
• Store in airtight glass container or jar in the fridge.
• You can freeze it, too, but I already stored it up to three months in the fridge.