How to Make Pesto – Part 3 – Mint Pesto
Written by Rachel, Posted in Condiments, Dairy-Free, Fruit, Gluten Free, Herbs, How To, Quick and Easy, Sauces, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian
It’s time for another pesto installment. I still can’t believe that I hadn’t made pesto before I tried my hand at Basil Pesto, the more traditional pesto. Then came the Kale Pesto, a bright, green tasting treasure.
But, recently, I’ve been loving mint. I love mint so much that I stuck a few sprigs in some dirt to see if they’d grow.
They did!
I have more mint growing outside than I know what to do with. And I’m fine with that.
I thought I’d highlight the cool mint flavor with just a few ingredients. No nuts or cheese this time. Just some lemon, garlic, balsamic vinegar, salt, and olive oil. (But, if you wanted to add nuts, almonds, pine nuts, pistachios, or cashews would be a great choice.)
Simple.
Since I have a tiny food processor-like attachment to my hand blender, I just put everything in at the same time and blend. You could also stream the olive oil in as you blend, if you have a blender or regular food processor. I think it worked just fine the way I did it though.
You could adjust the amount of liquid (or add more mint) if this isn’t thick enough for you. But, I liked the way it turned out.
I have so much pesto in my freezer that I’m going to have to start including it in my weekly menu, every week.
What a problem to have, right?!
I’m going to eat it with a baguette that’s topped with feta. Yes. I’m gonna do that. I’m going to drizzle it over roasted green beans and peas. I might toss it with pasta or rice (hello risotto!), with grilled eggplant, steamed carrots, or fresh tomatoes. I might make it into a salad dressing, add it to hummus, or use it to top soup. Or, like I did today, I may add it to a Greek Pasta Salad that’s got chickpeas, veggies, and feta.
Happy Eating!
Ingredients
- 1 - 1 1/2 C packed mint (about 1 bunch)
- 1/4 C olive oil
- 1-2 cloves garlic
- 1 T lemon juice
- 1/2 to 1 t lemon zest
- 1 T balsamic vinegar
- to taste salt
Instructions
- Blend all ingredients for about 60 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the blender, taste and adjust seasoning if desired, and blend for about 30 seconds more.
