Any one got a good pesto recipe?

[eco4560]

I have plenty of basil just waiting.....

[Michaelangelica]

I have plenty of basil just waiting.....

Already!! bugger, roll on Global Warming.

I just make it up as I go. Pine nuts are essential although i have tried it with cheaper almonds and it is just passble.
Add basil leaves, olive oil, pine nuts, and blend and taste, blend and taste.

I note that Aldi has a nice bottled pesto these days. So much better than the early days of manufactures making bottled pesto with dried basil! Euck!

Some of the nursey basils are terrible- incredibbly clovey- so i have tried a few new varieties this year, including "Magical Michael' (of course) a pretty-flowering variety with tarragon flavoured leaves.

[eco4560]

The joys of living in Qld! My seeds came from Eden and the flavour is superb. I've been taking flowers off for weeks and using small amounts in salads, but I now have enough to give it a go. Do I need garlic in it as well?

[Grahame]

Try this one eco...

250g fresh basil
1/3 cup toasted pine nuts
2 cloves garlic
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/3 cup olive oil
salt and pepper

Wizz 'em all up with a bamix and bang it on the pasta. We also use cashews in lieu of or half and half with the pine nuts...

[greenfarmers]

Hi Eco,

We sometimes add a touch of cayenne or even chilli for variety and maybe some black pepper.

If you want to increase the nutritional value you can also add rocket, spinach, parsley or other greens and even sunflower or pumpkin seeds for more nutrient goodies ... tastes very yummy.

Pesto freezes well too - for pasta sauce etc ...

Enjoy,
Heidi

[purplepear]

We used macadamias in place of pine nuts and they were great - we sold them at the Dungog market and only lost 50 cents a jar on the deal but as we were putting barrow loads of basil in the compost it was atleast excess sharing.

[aroideana]

Mark , YES macadamias are an xclnt substitute for pine nuts , also pecorino cheese and avocado

[mischief]

I more often than not use sunflower seeds rather than pine nuts because pines nuts are so expensive here.
I just wizz up up basil in oil add a clove of garlic, alittle parmisan cheese (or dried out 'tasty' cheese) and just mix it to taste.

[eco4560]

The pesto was a HUGE success. I got my 14 year old son to stand beside me and communicate for an hour. And we made some great pesto. Some with macadamias, some with pine nuts, some with parmesan and some without. I ran out of olive oil and garlic before we ran out of basil (by then we had about 5 jars tucked in the fridge, and about 6 cup fulls of pesto leaves used up). Pesto and anchovies on pasta for lunch. Yum!

[Michaelangelica]

Good news
You can make pestos with other herbs too. One of my favorites is with wild or cultivated Rocket. a very different taste.
Try baking some tomatoes (halved) with some basil pesto spread thickly over them.