Escarole Pesto Pasta
Serves 1
Directions
- 1Rough chop the escarole.
- 2Wash the chopped escarole and core.
- 3Add about a quarter cup of olive oil to a large pan over medium heat.
- 4Add 8 to 10 whole peeled garlic cloves to the pan.
- 5Add all of the washed escarole to the pan.
- 6Optionally, add a pinch of red pepper flake.
- 7Sauté the escarole for about 3 to 4 minutes until it's wilted down but still has some texture.
- 8Use a slotted or perforated spoon to pick the escarole and garlic out of the pan, leaving as much liquid behind as possible.
- 9Lay the escarole and garlic out into a flat surface like a plate or a half-sheet tray to cool down.
- 10While the escarole cools, pick the leaves off about one full bunch of basil.
- 11Once the escarole and garlic are cooled, pick it up with your hands and squeeze out as much moisture as possible into a food processor.
- 12Give it a light pinch of kosher salt.
- 13Give the mixture a couple of pulses to get the garlic a head start.
- 14Scrape down the sides of the food processor.
- 15Add the juice from two lemons.
- 16Add all of the basil.
- 17If it's not quite pureeing to your desire, add a little drizzle of olive oil.
- 18Puree until you get the texture that you like.
- 19Portion your pesto into a container for future use.
- 20Cook your favorite pasta.
- 21Pull the pasta straight out of the water and into a bowl with about a half a cup of pesto, a quarter cup of Parmesan cheese, and optionally, about a tablespoon of cold butter.
- 22Mix the pasta until the sauce emulsifies.
- 23Serve and top with more Parmesan cheese if desired.
Ingredients
- 1 head Escarole
- 0.25 cup Olive oil
- 9 Whole peeled garlic cloves
- 1 pinch Red pepper flake
- 1 bunch Basil
- 1 pinch Kosher salt
- 2 Lemons
- 0.25 pound Pasta
- 0.25 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon Cold butter
Equipment
KnifePanSlotted or perforated spoonSheet trayFood processorMortar and pestleMokaheteStick blenderTongsBowlPot
Tips
- Pistachios or pumpkin seeds are good additions to the pesto.
- To double basil production, pinch the top of the stem where two baby stems are growing. These baby stems will grow into two main stems.
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