Even the kids were drawn to the kitchen by the alluring smell of fresh herbs, asking, "What delicious thing are we eating today?" Pesto! Here is the simple recipe fot this fresh and divine sauce...
Approximate Ingredients:
- 3 cups fresh basil leaves
- 1 cup fresh mint leaves
- 1 clove garlic
- Juice of one lemon and a teaspoon of grated zest
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup shelled pistachios
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
- salt and pepper
Method:
- Preparing the ingredients: Wwash the basil and mint, peel the garlic, and grate the Parmesan.
- Mixing: Throw the basil, mint, garlic, lemon zest and juice, pistachios, and Parmesan into a blender.
- Adding the oil: While the blender is running, slowly add the olive oil until you get a smooth sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add a bit more oil or lemon juice to taste.
- Seasoning: Taste and add salt and pepper if needed.
If I don't use all the sauce, I divide the pesto into ice cube trays and freeze it. Once the cubes are frozen, I transfer them to a bag and use them as needed. Every time I make fresh pesto, I add a cube or two. Late in the fall, when the scent of fresh basil is just a fond memory, I can bring a bit of summer back by tossing a cube into some pasta.
This pesto is versatile ? it was perfect with the pasta I made that day. It can also be used as a spread on bread or even as a dressing for salads, over tomatoes, mozzarella, and similar dishes. The pesto and tomatoes from grandpa's garden smelled so divine that I was in a hurry to take photos. Mmm, even now, thinking about it makes my mouth water. The simplest dishes are the most delicious. Isn't that true?
Bojana
