One of my favorite things about summer is growing basil and making fresh pesto, my Tao to Wellness Walnut Pesto is to die for! It is so easy, and so delightfully delicious! Pesto’s ability to dazzle you is not at all limited to pasta dishes. It’s wonderful on vegetables, salads, sandwiches, crusty bread, as a dip and even in your favorite vegetable smoothie!
My favorite version of this recipe uses walnuts, I use them for the dark nut taste, but also because Walnuts in Chinese medicine are said help the brain because they look like a brain! No kidding! So, I use them here rather than the traditional pine nuts that you see in most recipes, which have a softer taste. Feel free to experiment with almonds, brazil nuts or pumpkin seeds
Tao to Wellness Walnut Pesto
INGREDIENTS
2 Cups packed Basil
½ Cup Olive Oil
2 Cloves of Garlic
¼ Cup Walnuts
Sea Salt & Pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS
Place all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth. You can add more or less Olive Oil, depending on whether you want your pesto to be thick for a dip or saucier for vegetables and pasta.
If you have lots of basil in your garden, make a larger batch and freeze some in a zip lock bag for winter meals!
