Red Pepper Walnut Pesto
Recipe by California Walnut Board
- Yield: servings
- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 35 mins
Ingredients
- -- Half a large red bell pepper
- 2cloves garlic, peeled
- 3/4cup California walnuts, finely chopped
- 3/8cup sun-dried tomatoes
- -- Handful of fresh basil, plus 4-5 leaves for garnish
- 3/8cup grated Pecorino Romano or Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
- -- salt, to taste
- -- pepper, to taste
- 3/8cup extra-virgin olive oil
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 400F. Halve and trim red pepper and, when oven is heated, place half skin-side down on oven rack (or use a pan if preferred). Roast 15-20 minutes, or until skin is well shriveled (but not blackened).
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Place garlic cloves in medium saucepan, add cold water to cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes or until soft enough to pierce with a fork. Remove garlic using a slotted spoon (keeping water in pan), and set aside to drain.
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Meanwhile, quickly toast chopped walnuts in a warmed frying pan (without oil), stirring consistently, over medium-high heat just until they start to turn golden. Remove from heat and place on paper towels.
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Place sun-dried tomatoes in saucepan containing reserved water, adding more water to cover as necessary. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer 8-10 minutes. Remove using a slotted spoon (keeping water in pan), and set aside to drain, blotting well with paper towels.
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Prepare an ice bath. Blanch basil very briefly (3-4 seconds) in still-warm reserved water. Quickly transfer to ice bath. Drain and dry basil thoroughly with paper towels
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Thoroughly dry all above ingredients with paper towels as necessary. Place in a blender or processor, adding 3/8 cup cheese, and salt and pepper to taste.
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Blend, adding oil incrementally, until smooth and paste like.
Nutritional Info *per serving
- Calories 150
- Glycemic Load 0
- Fat 15g
- Saturated Fat 2g
- Polyunsaturated Fat 5g
- Monounsaturated Fat 8g
- Cholesterol 5mg
- Sodium 210mg
- Potassium 135mg
- Carbohydrate 3g
- Fiber 1g
- Sugars 1g
- Protein 3g
- Trans Fat 0g
- Vitamin A 6%
- Vitamin C 20%
- Calcium 4%
- Iron 2%