You rush home from the office, and you’re hungry. While takeout is tempting, having some things on hand to make a fast, delicious meal may be just the quick fix you need. One of our favorite things to have on hand is pesto, a mixed paste made from fresh herbs (usually, basil), nuts (usually, walnuts or pinenuts), garlic, extra virgin olive oil and parmesan cheese.
Pesto is easy to make but even easier to buy. It’s also a sneaky way to get your family to eat their greens.
There are many varieties of pesto (basil, cilantro, sundried tomato, olive), all delicious, in the refrigerator case of most natural food stores and supermarkets. Some flavors of pesto are available in jars that you can store in your pantry (refrigerate after opening). Also look at your Farmers’ Market for fresh, homemade pesto varieties.
Pesto can be eaten right from the fridge or heated. Fresh pesto can also be frozen and then just spoon out what you need and keep it frozen for a longer shelf life. Portion your pesto ahead of time for easier use by freezing it in ice cube trays. When you’re ready to use it, just pop a cube or two into your dish, heat and eat.
Here are 6 easy ways to use pesto:
1. Thinned out with olive oil and vinegar or lemon for a delicious salad dressing.
2. Tossed with veggies such as asparagus or broccoli.
3. Mixed into pasta, rice, quinoa, chickpeas or couscous for a quick meal or side dish.
4. As a topper for grilled or rotisserie chicken, fish or shellfish.
5. As a dip for cherry tomatoes or other raw veggies.
6. Drizzled over fresh mozzarella and roasted peppers.
How do you eat pesto? Let us know in the comments section.
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Posted by Kate on January 10, 2014 at 7:09 pm
I use the Super Green Kale instead of basil!