With just one hour until the kids' pickup and errands consuming our morning, I found myself in a bit of a crunch. Hubby was home, but we hadn’t managed to do any shopping, and eating out hasn’t been an option for me lately due to my intolerances.
Thankfully, I had a fresh bunch of basil from the market and some gluten-free pasta on hand.
The perfect solution? Pesto! 🍃🍝
In just 20 minutes, I whipped up a delicious batch of homemade pesto. Hubby aka Steve really appreciates fresh meals, especially since he travels a lot and often has to eat in hotels, where the choices can be less than ideal. This quick dish was not only satisfying but also a healthy alternative.
Who knew quick meals could be this delicious?
Here's what you'll need
food processor (like the one on my cookware page)
2 big bunches of fresh basil
1 hand full pecans
1 hand full pine nuts (or more)
salt
pepper (optional)
high quality EVOO
1 hand full arugula (optional)
1 clove of garlic (optional)
Pasta300 grams GF pasta + 1 tsp salt for cooking
What to do
Step 1 : Rinse the basil leafs and pat them dry with paper towel.
Step 2 : Lightly toast the nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat until golden. This enhances the flavor. (Make some extra to top your pasta later!).
Step 3 : In a food processor, combine the basil, (optional: garlic), nuts, and a (good) pinch of salt. Pulse until coarsely chopped. Slowly drizzle in 1/3 cup (or more) of olive oil and blend (medium or high speed until the pesto reaches your desired consistency. You can adjust the amount based on how thick or thin you want it.
Step 4 : Taste the pesto with a clean spoon and adjust with more salt or nuts if needed.
Step 5 : Cook pasta as recommended and combine in a bowl with pesto, serve and top with roasted pine nuts and pecans.
Tip:
If not using immediately: transfer the pesto to a clean glass jar, drizzle a bit of olive oil on top, and cover tightly to prevent browning. Can last for about 10 days in the fridge. Pesto is super easy to prepare and makes for a convenient meal later! It also makes for a a great salad dressing! (you could add a little oat or almond milk)
Mom hack: Ewww it's green? Try to prepare green dishes like this together with your kids. They'll love to be included in the process. My girls love the mild pesto version.
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