Starbucks 'Trenta': How The New Size Compares To Your Stomach
Famous Death Row Last Meals
Pesto is one of those spreads that's a must-make when you have a food processor. For some minimal effort that includes throwing a collection of ingredients in and hitting pulse, you get a delicious spread that's cheaper than the store variety, and all the tastier.
However, it's not so friendly to the vegan population, with its healthy dose of parmesan cheese in the mix. Luckily, there's a no-cheese, wonderfully vegan variety that can elicit oohs and ahhs as well. (Courtesy of the Fresh cookbook!) But wait -- don't curl up your nose, anti-veganites -- no-cheese pesto serves another function: it allows you to make a tasty pesto that's cheaper, and perfect for those times when you've run out of parmesan.
In fact, the recipe after the jump is so versatile that it tasted pretty darned good even without the fresh spinach (which I didn't have). I just substituted extra basil from my rapidly growing herb garden. Dig in!
No-Parm Pesto
Ingredients:
2 cloves minced garlic
1 tsp sea salt*
1/4 cup sunflower seeds (raw and unsalted)
1/3 cup pine nuts
3 tbsp olive oil
1 bunch fresh basil with the stems removed
2 cups chopped fresh spinach
Process garlic, salt, seeds, nuts, and olive oil until finely minced. Add the basil and spinach, and process until smooth.
*Note: Make sure you grind this up a little. I got lazy and used big chunks which made for a slightly-too-salty pesto.
Jane Seymour's Modest And Modern Style
Broke Stars: 11 Celebrities Who Went Bankrupt
LOOK: Amazing Underwater Photos Of Dogs
Adele Five-Year Break? Singer Plans to Focus on Relationship, Write 'Happy Record'
Social Security Is Failing Even Faster Than We Thought
Janice Dickinson's Outrageous Style
Man Says Starbucks Discriminated Against Him Because He Has Half An Arm
Chris Brown, Grammys 2012: Embattled Singer Slams Critics
PHOTOS: How You Can Get The 'Miracle' Dress
Ford's clever Sports Illustrated Swimsuit ad features phantom model
3 Economic Misconceptions That Need to Die
Photos Of Dead Lacrosse Player's Injured Body Shown To Jury
Trace Adkins Reunites With College Crush, 30 Years Later
Van Gogh's Starry Night modded into beautiful interactive light and sound show (video)
PHOTOS: Model Falls At Dennis Basso Show
'Hooker Teacher' Forced To Resign, Now Can't Find Work
Lauren Scruggs Goes On Ski Vacation
WATCH AND LAUGH: Cops In 2-Hour Standoff With Empty Car
New Clues, Details Emerge In Powell Case
Woman's Dead Fiance Is Behind Her Disappearance: Cops
Stephen Wiltshire Draws Cities From Memory
PHOTOS: Remembering The People's Ballerina
20 Of Elizabeth Olsen's Versatile Looks
We Meant There WERE Nukes In The Fire
LOOK: The Last Of The Cave People
Style Icon Dies After Collapsing At Fashion Show
Best In Show Winner Declared
WATCH: Saint VaLINtine Hits Game-Winning Shot
Most Eligible Post 50 Celebs
PHOTOS: Kate Spends Valentine's Day Solo!
10 Celebs Who Refuse To 'Fix' Their Teeth
Prosecutors Appeal Overturned Murder Convictions
6-24-2008 @12:16PM notavegan said... This recipe sounds great, I prefer this to all the parm.
Reply
6-24-2008 @2:59PM pjmwork said... No food processor here please!Call me a purist but pesto really tastes best when the ingredients are pounded together(wooden mortar and pestle)after having been hand-chopped (with a mezzaluna).
Reply
6-27-2008 @1:04PM Jason Levine said... Very interesting recipe! I'll have to try it. In my case, my problem with making pesto with parmesan cheese isn't because it's not vegan (I'm not vegan), but because most parmesan cheese isn't kosher. The kosher brands charge you an arm and a leg for a tiny, little jar. Seriously, if Kraft could make their parmesan cheese kosher, they would kill off those little kosher brands! (I doubt that'll happen anytime soon, so I'll just have to live a parm-less existence.)
Reply
6-28-2008 @6:48PM Jonz said... When i make vegan pesto (i eat vegan btw), i use some lemon juice in it just to give it a little kick. makes it really good.
I've made really good pesto with garlic mustard. it is a common weed around where i used to live and it makes an excellent pesto either just garlic mustard or with basil, or whatever other herbs you want to use.
Reply