Small Bowl of Broccoli Pesto
(click to enlarge)

Broccoli Pesto


California

Makes:
Effort:
Sched:
DoAhead:  
2-1/4 cup
**
40 min
Yes
A fine, economical Pesto useable however Pesto Genovese is used. In Italy, Pestos are often made with various Herbs and Nuts, not just Basil and Pine Nuts. See also Comments.

12
1-1/4
2
1/3
1
2
3/4
1/2
1/3
3

oz
oz
cl
c

T
c
T
t
T

Broccoli (1)
Mint Leaves (2)  
Garlic
Scallion (3)
Lemon Zest
Lemon Juice
Walnuts, raw
Salt
Pepper
Olive Oil ExtV

Make   -   (40 min)
  1. Break BROCCOLI into coarse florets that will fit in you processor. I split the stems for faster cooking.
  2. Remove Mint Leaves from stems.
  3. Bring a pan of lightly salted Water to a boil and stir in Broccoli. Boil until just about done, then toss in Mint for the last minute. Drain and refresh under cold running water. If you reserve the water it can be used to cook the Pasta. Squeeze out excess water.
  4. Crush GARLIC and chop fine. Grate LEMON ZEST and squeeze LEMON JUICE. Chop SCALLION medium. Mix all with Salt and Pepper.
  5. In your Food Processor or Mixie place WALNUTS and run fine. Add Broccoli mix and Garlic mix. Run to a paste, scraping down the sides as needed. Now, a little at a time, add Olive Oil with the machine running until it's very smooth. You'll have to scrape down the sides a few times.
  6. For Pasta, see Serving. Refrigerated in a sealed container The Pesto will keep for several days, though the color won't be quite as bright. It can be frozen.
NOTES:
  1. Broccoli:

      Weight is for florets, which can be very stemmy.
  2. Mint:

      Weight is leaves only. This would be about 1-1/4 cup whole leaves moderately packed.
  3. Scallion:

      Use green only. Measure is for chopped fairly small and moderately packed.
  4. Serving

      Place a heatproof container in the sink under whatever you will strain the Pasta through, or you will forget to reserve some Pasta Water. Drain the Pasta and pour it back into the pot. Spoon in the appropriate amount of Pesto (about 1 cup per dry pound) and then stir in hot pasta water until the Pesto coats the Pasta well.
  5. Comments:

      Italian Pestos usually include grated Cheese, which would severely offend Vegans. This Pesto can easily stand without it, and providing some grated Parmesan on the side to be sprinkled as desired makes service much more flexible. Since I have a bag sealer, I seal the Pesto in a narrow 2-mil plastic bag with the air squeezed out. I can cut a corner off and use it as a squeeze tube.
  6. U.S. measure: t=teaspoon, T=Tablespoon, c=cup, qt=quart, oz=ounce, #=pound, cl=clove in=inch, ar=as required tt=to taste
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