Nutty Artichoke Asiago Lemon Pesto Sauce Food

LEMON ARTICHOKE PESTO

Steps:

• Place all the ingredients in food processor and process until pureed.
• Toss with you favorite pasta choice (we chose ravioli) about 30-60 seconds or until heated through.

ARTICHOKE PESTO

Steps:

• In a food processor combine the artichokes, parsley, walnuts, lemon zest and juice, garlic, salt, and pepper.
• Run the machine to finely chop all the ingredients, stopping the machine a few times to scrape down the sides.
• Then, with the machine running, drizzle in the extra-virgin olive oil.
• Mix in parmesan and serve with crostini.

CREAMY ARTICHOKE AND ASIAGO PASTA

Steps:

• Cook rotini according to package directions. Keep hot.
• Drain and chop artichoke hearts.
• In a large skillet, sauté onion and garlic gently in the olive oil until onion starts to soften.
• Add artichokes. Heat gently, stirring often.
• Add basil and white wine.
• Shake the milk and flour together. Add to pan. Heat, stirring constantly, until simmering and thickened.
• Stir in Asiago and parsley. Taste and adjust seasonings.
• Toss pasta in sauce until well-coated. Serve sprinkled with cayenne pepper flakes and additional parsley.

NUTTY ARTICHOKE ASIAGO LEMON PESTO SAUCE

Steps:

• Roast the garlic by either cooking the actual cloves or if you do it the lazy way like I do with the jarred minced garlic, roast on a frying pan until nice and browned. Put the roasted garlic aside for now.
• If you don't have the little jars of marinated artichoke hearts available near you, use a can of artichoke hearts (doesn't matter if they're whole or quartered because they're being hacked up in the food processor, but quartered will probably chop more easily) and marinate them yourself with a little bit of oil, some Italian seasoning, and a wee bit of red pepper flakes before putting them in the food processor. I like the particular seasoning mix that Goya uses on their marinated artichokes.
• Otherwise, pour the jars of artichoke hearts into a food processor with the almonds. Cover and pulse two or three times.
• Add the roasted garlic, cheese, lemon zest and juice and pulse again. I juiced the lemon and threw in some storebought lemon juice.
• Gradually add the olive oil and keep the food processor continuously going while doing so, until the olive oil is fully incorporated into the mixture.
• Great served over pasta, or as an appetizer with crackers or toasted Italian bread slices.