Description
This Garlic Scape Pesto brings together fresh, vibrant flavors that create a mouthwatering sauce perfect for pasta, sandwiches, or as a dip. With simple ingredients like garlic scapes, basil, and nuts, it’s a delightful addition to any meal that’s easy to prepare.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup garlic scapes, chopped
- ½ cup fresh basil
- ⅓ cup parmesan cheese, grated
- ⅓ cup walnuts or pine nuts, toasted
- ½ cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Rinse the garlic scapes under cold water and pat dry. Trim tough ends and chop into 1-2 inch pieces.
- Toast walnuts or pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently until golden and fragrant.
- Remove from heat to cool slightly.
- In a food processor, combine chopped garlic scapes, fresh basil, toasted nuts, and parmesan cheese. Pulse until finely chopped but not smooth.
- With the processor running, slowly drizzle in olive oil until the pesto is your desired consistency.
- Add lemon juice, salt, and black pepper. Blend for 10-15 seconds and adjust seasoning as needed.
- If too thick, add 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil or water and blend again until smooth.
- Use immediately with pasta or sandwiches, or store in an airtight container with a thin layer of olive oil on top.
Notes
For a nut-free version, you can omit the nuts or replace them with nutritional yeast.
Store leftover pesto in the refrigerator for up to a week, ensuring it is covered with olive oil to prevent discoloration.
This pesto can also be frozen for up to three months; just use an ice cube tray for easy portioning.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tablespoon
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 5mg