Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Pasta With Basil Pesto


Pasta and Pesto With Shrimp!
This is one of our favorites... You will be SO thankful you have a nose when you inhale the scents of fresh basil, garlic, and olive oil! It is especially good with some sauteed shrimp on top.
Here is our once-secret recipe...

BASIL PESTO

On the day that the Pesto will be made, harvest Basil in the AM before the heat. Put all branches in a large clean basin of water and swish up and down for a few minutes to clean. Remove branches, shaking off excess water and pile on a triple layer of paper towels. Allow the branches to dry through the day. Just before dinner time, snip enough leaves and blossoms off stems to fill a large food processor.

Fill a standard food processor with:

Basil Leaves (about 4 – 5 cups).

Add:

3 – 4 large Garlic Cloves cut in slices
½ tsp. Salt
¾ Cup freshly grated imported Reggiano Parmesan
¼ Cup Pine Nuts (Walnuts can also be used)
½ Cup imported Olive Oil
¼ Cup Warm Melted Butter
Ground Black Pepper to taste

Cook:

One pound of your favorite Pasta reserving about ½ Cup Pasta Water

Process Pesto until it is blended, scraping down sides of processor as needed, blending in the ½ Cup Pasta Water. Serve immediately over hot, drained pasta, tossing to coat. We often add fresh shrimp that has been sautéed in butter with garlic, straight sherry, and a dusting of flour to bind the juices.

You can also serve the Pesto over tomatoes that have been sliced and alternated with slices of Mozzarella and Basil Leaves on a plate (as in Caprese Salad) or in lots of other ways. It’s also great on Garlic Bread! It’s best used as soon as it is made.

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