Pistachio Cherry Pesto w/Pasta & Broccoli
adapted from these two recipes
Yield: ~1c pesto
Serves 2 with extra pesto
I used the starchy pasta cooking water to help bring the pesto together. If you want to make the pesto by itself, just use some vegetable stock or more oil.
6oz whole wheat pasta (I used penne)
1 head broccoli, cut into florets
For the pesto:
1/2c pistachios, lightly toasted
1/2c dried tart cherries
3 cloves of roasted garlic
1 meyer lemon
1 pinch of red pepper flakes
1/2c packed basil
1/2c packed parsley
2T extra virgin olive oil
1/4c or more broth
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add a hefty dash of salt, then add the pasta. A minute or two before the pasta is al dente, add the broccoli. Once the pasta is cooked, SAVE 1c of the cooking water (use a measuring cup) and then drain the pasta and broccoli.
While the pasta is cooking, prepare the pesto. In the bowl of a food processor, add pistachios, cherries, roasted garlic, the zest and juice of a meyer lemon, red pepper flakes, basil, parsley and olive oil. Process until it becomes a paste. Add 1/4c of the pasta cooking liquid and continue to blend until smooth, adding more liquid as necessary to achieve a pesto-like consistency (thick but spreadable). Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Add the drained pasta and broccoli back to the pot, along with 1/2c pesto and ~1/4c of the pasta cooking liquid. Stir to combine, and adjust as needed-- you may want a little more pesto, or need more liquid based on your own preferences!
I would try adding the rest of the pesto to some roasted brussels sprouts, a la Chef Todd. Or perhaps as a sandwich spread, with goat cheese (of course), chicken and arugula. Mmmm.
What do you like to add to your pesto??
20 comments:
You always come up with the most creative mix ups! I usually stick with the norm for pesto, but I have made pea-sto too.
What a creative recipe! I love sweet-savory pairings, and this pesto sounds fantastic.
how did you even think to add pistachios and cherrys?! how did you like this in comparison to regular old pesto? :)
What a great idea to dress up pesto! Such a creative combination - I love you other suggestions as well - goat cheese? YUM!
I am so curious about the addition of dried cherries. This pesto excites and intrigues me!
First off, I could eat pistachios forever. Second, pistachio and dried cherry is such an awesome combo, in both sweet and savory.
I love the idea of this pesto with goat cheese...yum! I bet that would make a great appetizer.
This has to be the most creative pesto I've ever seen. I love the idea of spreading this on a sandwich
sounds like a perfect pesto to me!
I love sweet and savory flavors in my meals. Indeed this is a unique sauce with a beautiful combination of ingredients!
man that sounds so good!
you know I love sweet & savory combo's--why not pesto? oh yes please.
That definitely sounds like an interesting combination of ingredients to turn into a pesto. Bet it had great flavor!
I had to re-read that title. This sounds so interesting.
I think you are definitely the pesto queen! I like the sound of this. And its definitely next to impossible to make a bowl of a dark green condiment look pretty :)
What IS a pesto, really? Sounds pretty existential to me. But really...this version just sounds delicious!
I've never made pesto before, so this looks like pesto to me! :o) In all seriousness, the ingredients look incredible. Definitely saving this one for my future first pesto experience.
This idea is perfect for so many reasons. I don't like nuts but am warming up to pistachios so this is a great gateway pesto ;) The addition of cherries is also awesome!
I love cherries, I think they should be added to everything. Great idea!
Pesto with CHERRIES? I need this in my life!! :)
What a cool twist on pesto - sounds so unique and delightful!
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