My fridge is full of a stash of goodies, mostly made up of my own homemade sauces, pastes and quirky finds from all my travels. I believe in constantly pushing the boundaries with new recipes but I must admit, there is definitely still a calling for some good old fashioned recipes that seem to work every single time. One of those are pesto – a typical basil, pine nut and parmesan based version is a solid favourite and then, just by the nature of my culinary curiosity, i’ve created a sage and almond pesto that is seriously good with any grilled chicken or pork and simply divine slathered over some hot grilled vegetables.
Try my quick blender friendly recipes and whip up a batch of my home made pestos..I’ll also give you quick tips on how to use these pestos for a super, quick fix meal!
Kicking off today with Sandy’s Gourmet Basil and Parmigiana Pesto – Keep posted next week for the Sage and Almond Pesto!!
Makes one 250ml jar
Simply whizz all the ingredients together until you have a thick but glossy paste. If you find it is too thick, don’t be scared of loosening up with some olive oil.
Recipe Ideas
Fabulous Ideas on where to use Sandy’s Gourmet Basil and Parmigiano Pesto!
Chicken Pesto Nibbles
~ Toss some small chunks of chicken breast, around 300gms, in cornflour, salt and black pepper. Lightly stir fry in a shallow pan. When it starts to turn golden brown, add around 2 tbs of the pesto and stir through gently. Add 3/4 cup double cream, 1/2 cup hot water and check for seasoning. Finish the dish, by sprinkling over 1 cup of cherry tomatoes ( sliced in half ) and a handful of chopped parsley. Serve with some sweet potato mash – delish!
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Yummy Pesto Tortilla Wraps
~ Make some very different but utterly yummy tortilla wraps..Simply warm some tortillas and spread 1/2 tbs of pesto, covering the tortilla entirely. Layer with slices of mozzarella cheese, parma ham, avocado slices and finish with a salt and black pepper for seasoning. Serve with hot tomato relish and a pile of potato crisps to munch on!
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Pesto Salmon Baguette Bites
~ For a light bite, slice some freshly baked french baguette at an angle. Place under a hot grill and toast for a few minutes. Take a garlic clove, cut in half and rub the flat cut side across the grilled bread. Spread 1 tsp pesto paste over the bread. Now layer with a few thin slices of smoked salmon and sprikle over some capers and red onion rings. Squeeze some lemon over the top and indulge indulge indulge!
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