Walnut and Parsley Pesto

Pasta Sauce - Side Dish

I hope this walnut and parsley version serves as a reminder that 'pesto' is not a recipe, but a technique. The buttery walnuts temper the fire of the mashed garlic and pair beautifully with the aromatic, bittersweet parsley. Use on toasted bread, pizza or pasta, or on roasted chicken--it's that versatile!

Brief

Servings: 8

Yield: 1 cup

Walnut and Parsley Pesto

Ingredients

4 cloves garlic

sliced

1 large pinch kosher salt

plus more to taste

½ cup chopped raw walnuts

½ cup chopped Italian parsley

Juice from one lemon

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

water

if needed

Gorgonzola Pasta Sauce

Side Dish

Directions

Step 1

Place garlic and salt in a mortar; smash and mash with the pestle until it becomes a paste 5 to 8 minutes. Add walnuts; mash walnuts into a paste until you reach your desired texture (coarse or smoother) another 5 to 8 minutes. Add parsley and mash to break up and blend with the walnut/garlic mixture about 4 minutes. Add lemon juice and olive oil; stir mash and emulsify liquids into the mixture until it becomes very thick and well blended 8 to 10 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings. If mixture seems too thick whisk in a tablespoon of water or as needed.

Step 2

Spread on bread use on pizza or pasta or on roasted chicken. The taste is just like garlic butter so use it as such.

Nutritional Information

Walnut and Parsley Pesto

Servings Per Recipe:8

Calories: 84.9

% Daily Value *

Protein: 1.4g 3%

Carbohydrates: 2.4g 1%

Dietary Fiber: 0.7g 3%

Sugars: 0.4g

Fat: 8.3g 13%

Saturated Fat: 0.9g 5%

Vitamin A Iu: 319.1IU 6%

Niacin Equivalents: 0.4mg 3%

Vitamin B6: 0.1mg 4%

Vitamin C: 9.1mg 15%

Folate: 14.1mcg 4%

Calcium: 15.8mg 2%

Iron: 0.5mg 3%

Magnesium: 14.6mg 5%

Potassium: 69.3mg 2%

Sodium: 77.6mg 3%

Calories From Fat: 74.7

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

**Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-)Nutrition information is provided for reference only. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.