Arugula Macadamia Nut Pesto Recipes

Steps:

• Turn on a food processor fitted with the steel blade, and drop in the garlic cloves. When they are chopped and adhering to the sides, stop the machine, scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the walnuts. Turn on the machine, and process until they are finely ground. Scrape down the bowl again, and add the arugula and the salt. Pulse until the arugula is finely chopped, then turn on the machine and run while you slowly drizzle in the olive oil. When the mixture is smooth, stop the machine, scrape down the sides and process for another 30 seconds or so. Scrape out into the bowl of a mortar and pestle. Grind the mixture with the pestle for a smoother texture. Work in the cheese and combine well.

Steps:

• In a food processor, using a pulse action, chop the macadamias, basil, garlic and parmigiano until very finely minced. Pulse in the lemon juice, olive oil and add salt to taste. The mixture should be pureed, but retain some texture.
• Toss your favourite cooked pasta with the pesto; top bruschetta with it; dip crostini into it -- .

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread Macadamia nuts on small jelly roll pan (or similar) and roast in the oven for 5 - 10 minutes, stirring every 2-3 minutes. Watch closely so they do not brown too much, remove from oven when golden brown and let cool. Cook pasta according to manufacturer's directions (boil approximately 10 minutes). Meanwhile in a food processor, pack in the basil, the arugula and the nuts and process until well pureed (I had to start with half the greens and nuts and once it pureed a bit, added the rest.). Add the ricotta to the food processor and blend until well mixed. Drain the pasta and toss with the pureed mix and the halved cherry tomatoes. Add salt and pepper to taste and toss again.
• Note - traditional pesto often has garlic added but I have a food sensitivity to garlic. Feel free to experiment by adding garlic, but first try it as listed above, it has a lovely fresh nutty greens taste to it!

Steps:

• Prepare an ice water bath in a large bowl, and bring a large pot of water to a boil. Put the arugula in a large sieve and plunge it into the boiling water. Immediately immerse all the arugula and stir so that it blanches evenly. Blanch for about 15 seconds. Remove, shake off the excess water, then plunge the arugula into the ice water bath and stir again so it cools as fast as possible. Drain well.
• Squeeze the water out of the arugula with your hands until very dry. Roughly chop the arugula and put in a blender. Add the garlic, salt and pepper to taste, olive oil, 2 tablespoons of the pine nuts, and the vitamin C, if using. Blend for at least 30 seconds. In this way the green of the arugula will thoroughly color the oil. Add the cheese and pulse to combine. The pesto will keep several days in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator.
• Pull out before dinner to get to room temperature. Before serving, add the remaining 1 tablespoon toasted pinenuts.