Vicci - I usually make a couple of large batches of pesto (using different nuts - cashews, pistachios, walnuts, whatever) and freeze in small 6 or 8 oz containers.
Here's a list I made to use when the basil is going crazy - I know you want to preserve it, buy maybe 1 or 2 ideas for some of your fresh, while you have it.
Uses for Pesto:
I like to use a thick, nutty pesto to crust proteins; rack of lamb, fish. filets, even soft shell
crabs.
" use it to make croutons
" add more oil and vinegar and make a salad dressing
" great for adding to practically any protein ... at least that's what I enjoy . make into an herbed butter
add to mashed potatoes
· spread for a ham sandwich . 'sauce' for a pizza
. brush on grilling meats/poultry (as someone mentioned)
. add a little to a savory cookie dough (like pignoli cookies)
" combine with soft butter for a flavored butter (great to top a steak with)
top grilled com
, mix with goat cheese for a bruschetta topping
smear on a tortilla for a quesadilla
mix with yolks for deviled eggs
, So many uses you wil not be able to count them all.
· Mix with cream cheese for your bagel or for a quesadilla, mix it into mayonnaise for all
your savory sandwiches, mix it into potato salad ,pasta salad, tuna salad. chicken salad. egg
salad,ham salad and all other salads you normally mixed with mayonnaise(Except the
ones containing fruits).
,
Adding into your ranch dressing for a pesto-dressing to be used as a salad dressing or as a
dipping sauce for crudités, to top asparagus or artichokes
Stir pesto into your alfredo sauce for your pastas or put it on hot broccoli, cauliflower or
and again on asparagus. The same sauce mixed with fresh mushrooms and served on toast
or as a stuffed tomato makes a great appetizer. Also great on corned beef and cabbage for
St.Partrick's day
Improve your potato soups,tomato soups, white bean soups,all your clam chowders any
fish chowder including salmon chowders all seafood bisques along with minestrone soup
and a just about all vegetable soups by adding pesto.
Make a better tasting marinara sauce with pesto !
Stir pesto into your meat-loaf mix, or put it into your stuffing for stuffed peppers and
stuffed cabbage.
Mix your extra pesto into ricotta cheese and/or béchamel for your lasagna.
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Basil is both a blessing and a curse 'cause we all hate to waste it!