Sicilian Style Pesto Food

SICILIAN-STYLE PESTO PASTA

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to pack instructions. Blend together the almonds, cheese, most of the basil and all of the olive oil in a food processor until they form a chunky paste. Drain pasta, then stir through pesto and tomatoes.
• Spoon onto serving plates, then serve sprinkled with the remaining basil leaves.

SICILIAN PESTO

Steps:

• In the bowl of a food processor or high speed blender, pulse the almonds and garlic together until finely chopped. Add the basil, tomatoes, salt and pepper flakes and pulse again to combine. With the motor running, add the oil in a thin stream until combined. Remove the sauce to a bowl and stir in the parmesan cheese.
• Serve tossed with pasta and fresh mozzarella, as a spread on crostini, on vegetables or protein.

PESTO ALLA TRAPANESE (SICILIAN PESTO RECIPE)

Steps:

• Boil water in a small sauce pan, add almonds and boil for 1 minute. Drain and when they're cool enough to handle use your fingers to peel off the skin. It will easily slip off. Preheat oven to 350F and toast almonds for 10 minutes.
• Score the top of each tomato with a sharp knife. Bring water in that same sauce pan to a gentle boil. Add tomatoes and blanch for 1 minute. The skin will begin to shrivel. Drain and place in a bowl. When cool enough to handle, peel off the skin, roughly chop the tomatoes and set aside in a bowl.
• Place garlic and a pinch of salt in the mortar and crush until you have a paste. Add almonds and continue crushing until you have a rough paste. Finally, add basil leaves and another pinch of salt and grind all ingredients together until well combined.
• Transfer the mixture to the bowl with the cherry tomatoes and stir until combined. The pesto will have small chunks of tomatoes and will not be as smooth as pesto made in a food processor. If your mortar is large enough, you can also add the tomatoes to the almond mixture and grind all ingredients together.
• Place all ingredients in the bowl of your food processor and process until smooth. For a chunkier consistency pulse a few times until you have the desired texture. Add salt, to taste.

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.

SICILIAN-STYLE PESTO

Steps:

• Place sun-dried tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, almonds, and 1 cup hot water in the jar of a blender. Blend on high until a chunky sauce forms, about 1 minute.

SICILIAN TOMATO PESTO

Steps:

• Heat a small skillet over medium-high heat and add the pine nuts.
• Cook, stirring constantly, until golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Immediately remove from the pan.
• Place the basil leaves, garlic, pine nuts and olive oil in a blender or food processor and process until smooth.
• Stop and scrape down the sides.
• Add the grated cheese and crushed red-pepper flakes and pulse a few times to make a thick paste.
• Transfer to a bowl and fold in the tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper.