Sorrel Pesto Recipes

SORREL PISTACHIO PESTO WITH SEARED SALMON

Steps:

• Preheat a large heavy-bottomed skillet over low heat while you prepare the pesto. Remove the salmon from refrigerator to come to room temperature.
• Separate the sorrel stems from the leaves, and then discard the stems (especially if it's later in the sorrel season, when the stems are fibrous and tough). You should have about 4 packed cups of sorrel leaves.
• Combine the pistachios and garlic in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until the mixture is the consistency of coarse sand. Add the sorrel and pulse until all of the leaves are chopped and incorporated into the nuts. With the machine running, slowly add up to 3/4 cup of olive oil until the mixture is smooth. Season with about 1 1/4 teaspoons salt. Spoon about 2 heaping tablespoons of pesto on the bottom of each plate. Transfer the remaining pesto to a bowl and cover the surface with plastic wrap to prevent it from turning brown. For best use, keep in the refrigerator up to 3 days.
• Blot excess moisture from the salmon with a paper towel and sprinkle both sides with salt. Turn up the heat to medium-high and add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil. When the oil is shimmering, carefully place the salmon in the pan skin-side down to avoid any splattering oil. Don't worry if the salmon skin seems stuck to the pan, after about 2 minutes it will release. Lower the heat to medium and cook until the skin is crisp and brown, about 4 minutes total. Flip over and cook until the salmon is firm to the touch (it would still be a bit translucent in the center if you peeked), an additional 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the pan and place the salmon skin-side up on each plate and serve.

RIVER COTTAGE SORREL PESTO WITH GOAT'S CHEESE

Steps:

• In a small frying pan over a medium heat, lightly toast the pine nuts until they're just beginning to turn golden, then tip out into a food processor. Add the garlic, sorrel, parsley and a pinch of salt to the pine nuts, then pulse a few times until roughly chopped and combined. Slowly pour in the olive oil, pulsing as you go, until the pesto is the consistency you like.
• Spoon the pesto mixture into a bowl and stir in the goat's cheese. The pesto will keep, sealed in a jar with a slick of olive oil over the top, for about a week.

GRILLED SALMON WITH SORREL PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat a grill. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Reserve 4 sorrel leaves and blanch the rest in the water for 5 seconds. Drain and refresh under cold running water. Drain well and place in a mini food processor or a blender with the parsley, garlic, olive oil and salt. Process until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides of the jar.
• Grill the salmon steaks until just cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cut the reserved sorrel leaves across into thin strips. Divide the salmon steaks among 4 plates, top with a dollop of pesto and sprinkle with the sorrel strips. Serve immediately.

SORREL PESTO

Steps:

• In a food processor or blender puree the sorrel, the parsley, the garlic, the parmesan, the pine nuts and the oil, transfer the pesto to a jar with a tight fitting lid and chill it, covered. The pesto keeps, covered and chilled, for 2 weeks. Makes about 1 cup.
• To use the pesto: For every pound of dried pasta cooking in a kettle of boiling water, stir together in a heated serving bowl 3/4 cup of the pesto and 2/3 cup of the hot cooking water. When the pasta is al dente, drain it in a colander, add it to the pesto mixture, and toss the mixture until the pasta is coated well. Vermicelli works very well with this recipe.