Pacific Rim Pesto Recipes

LAMB LOIN WITH PESTO MINT SAUCE

Steps:

• Spread lamb loin generously with mustard. Wrap with bacon or pancetta. Sprinkle with herbs. Preheat oven to 350°. Grill or panfry lamb on all sides. Place on cookie sheet or roasting pan and put in oven to finish cooking off. If you like your lamb rare, this should take about 5-10 minutes. Cook longer for more well-done lamb. Remove from oven and let meat rest 10 minutes before slicing. To make sauce, combine pesto with mint sauce. Add fresh mint and rosemary. Combine well. Serve with sliced lamb.

BASIC PESTO

Steps:

• Combine basil leaves, pine nuts or walnuts and garlic in a food processor and process until very finely minced.
• With the machine running slowly dribble in the oil and process until the mixture is smooth.
• Add the cheese and process very briefly, just long enough to combine. Store in refrigerator or freezer.

CLASSIC PESTO

Steps:

• Heat a small frying pan over a low heat. Cook the pine nuts until golden, shaking occasionally. Put into a food processor with the basil, parmesan, olive oil and garlic cloves. Whizz until smooth, then season to taste.

PESTO QUICHE

Steps:

• In unbaked pie shell, layer 1 cup mozzarella, pesto, sun-dried tomatoes and then remaining cheese. Blend together eggs and milk. Pour batter over top of tomato/cheese mixture. Bake at 400° for 10 minutes, or until crust is lightly browned. Reduce temperature to 300° and bake until quiche is set and knife comes out clean.

BASIC PESTO SAUCE

Steps:

• Pulse pine nuts in a food processor until they're completely broken down. Stop to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula from time to time. Add olive oil and garlic and pulse until garlic is finely chopped.
• Chop basil very roughly - just run a knife through it once or twice to cut most of the leaves into halves or thirds - then add to food processor. Pulse, stopping every 15 seconds to push the leaves down with a rubber spatula, until basil is entirely worked into the oil. Pulse for another few seconds, and then stop to prevent turning the basil brown.
• Pour pesto base into a bowl and add grated cheese and salt. Stir to combine, then taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Leave the sauce thick to toss with cooked pasta and a little pasta cooking water. To use the pesto as a garnish for grilled or roasted meats, fish and vegetables, thin it out with 2 to 3 more tablespoons olive oil until it's the consistency of a loose paste. To store leftovers, pour a little more olive oil over the pesto to cover. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to three days.

SUNDRIED TOMATO PESTO

Steps:

• Process all the above ingredients except for cheese in food processor until smooth. Add cheese, mix well, and refrigerate up to 2 days. Can also be frozen.

PESTO

Steps:

• Combine basil, garlic, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, and nuts in the bowl of a food processor or blender. Blend to a smooth paste. Add parsley if desired.