Pesto

  5.0 – 1 reviews  • Italian
Total: 5 min
Prep: 5 min
Yield: 1/2 cup

Ingredients

  1. 3 large cloves of garlic
  2. 1 1/2 cups fresh basil leaves
  3. 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  4. 1/2 to 2/3 cups extra-virgin olive oil
  5. Salt and pepper to taste
  6. Serving suggestion: Classic Minestrone Soup, recipe follows
  7. 1/3 cup olive oil
  8. 1 cup chopped onion
  9. 1 cup diced carrots
  10. 1 cup diced celery
  11. 1/2 cup great northern beans, soaked
  12. 1 bay leaf
  13. Sprig of thyme
  14. 4 cups beef stock
  15. Rind of a piece of Parmesan cheese-optional
  16. 2 cups Italian canned tomatoes and their juice
  17. Salt and pepper to taste
  18. 2 cups diced potatoes
  19. 2 cups zucchini, diced
  20. 2 cups shredded savoy cabbage
  21. 1 cup small pasta shells

Instructions

  1. In a food processor or blender combine garlic, basil leaves, grated Parmesan. With the motor running drizzle in the olive oil. Transfer to a bowl and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with Classic Minestrone Soup.
  2. In a casserole heat the olive oil. Add the onions and cook until golden, about 5 to 7 minutes. Then add the carrots and celery and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Add the beans, bay leaf and thyme and toss for 1 minute. Then add the beef stock, Parmesan rind (if using), plum tomatoes and their juice, and salt and pepper to taste. (Careful with the amount of salt since Parmesan rind will add a salty flavor.) Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour. Add the potatoes, zucchini and savoy cabbage and cook for 20 minutes more or until the vegetables are tender. Finally, add your pasta and cook, covered, for about 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper, ladle into bowls and serve.

Reviews

Emily Green
Tasty! Great, easy recipe! I did add a handful of pine nuts to the recipe. Will use over and over.

 

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