Lemon Walnut Pesto Food

EASY WALNUT BASIL PESTO

Steps:

• Pulse walnuts, olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic in a food processor until walnuts are finely chopped. Add basil leaves a little at a time, pulsing until a smooth paste forms. Mix in Parmesan cheese.

LEMON-WALNUT PESTO STUFFED CHERRY TOMATOES

Steps:

• Put all pesto ingredients in food processor and process until slightly chunky, or desired consistency.
• Taste and adjust seasonings, as necessary.
• Cut tomatoes (in half or cut off the very top) and remove seeds and juice (I use an iced tea spoon).
• Fill tomato with pesto using a pastry bag or ziploc bag (small spoon may also work).
• Sprinkle with paprika just before serving.
• Serve chilled or room temperature.

LEMON WALNUT PESTO

Steps:

• Place scallions, parsley, garlic and salt in food processor and pulse until well combined.
• Turn on food processor and drizzle in lemon juice and olive oil.
• Add walnuts and pulse until incorporated.
• Serve with sesame crackers.

CILANTRO WALNUT PESTO

Steps:

• Heat the walnuts in skillet over medium heat to toast. They are done when they smell slightly toasty and nutty.
• Meanwhile, get to chopping. Start with the garlic then gradually add in the cilantro, cheese, and evenutally the walnuts when toasted. Chop until the mixture is very fine, almost a paste. Add the seasonings, zest and juice and mix.
• Pour a drizzle of olive oil over the pesto slowly until it is saturated. Taste it and adjust the seasonings to your liking.
• When serving, reserve 1/4 cup hot cooking liquid and toss in a bowl with the hot pasta or veggies. Do not cook or it will lose a lot of its flavor. Add extra oil and lemon juice or rice vinegar to make it a dressing. A good dressing ratio is 2 parts oil to one part acid.

BASIL-WALNUT PESTO

Steps:

• Place basil, olive oil, walnuts, garlic and salt (if using) in food processor.
• Blend until thoroughly combined.
• Add Parmesan and butter (if using) and blend 5-10 seconds more.
• Just before serving, add 2 Tbsp of hot pasta water from cooked pasta.
• Serve over pasta with bread and salad.

PARSLEY, LEMON, AND WALNUT PESTO ON ROASTED SWEET POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss sweet potatoes with 1 tablespoon oil. Season with salt and pepper. Roast, turning once, until golden and tender, 23 to 25 minutes. Let cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, pulse parsley, garlic, walnuts, zest, and lemon juice in a food processor until coarsely chopped. Drizzle remaining 6 tablespoons oil and process until combined. Season with salt and pepper.
• Top roasted sweet potatoes with 2 tablespoons pesto.

WALNUT PESTO

Steps:

• Blend basil, walnuts, olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice together in a food processor until pesto has a paste-like consistency.