BASIL PESTO: JARRING THE FRESHNESS OF SUMMER GREENS

FULL RECPE FOR BASIL PESTO
Ingredients
200 g fresh basil leaves
cup (50 g) pine nuts
cup (30 g) walnuts
7-8 garlic gloves or 2 tbsp chopped garlic
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 cup cold-pressed olive oil

1 cup freshly-grated parmesan cheese (optional; if so, reduce the salt by tsp)

Directions
PINE NUTS
Pine nuts come from pine cones of a specific type of pine tree
The cones nestle hundreds of pine nuts
Once the cones ripen in Autumn, cone scales loosen up and the ripe seeds fall down to the ground
The seeds have hard shells that are covered with black dust
Wash and dry the seeds, thoroughly
Then, gently crack them to reach the pine nuts
Fresh pine nuts have a unique flavour, the smell of pine trees, and they taste delicious
Pine nuts are rich in magnesium, vitamin E and other antioxidants
Place the fresh pine nuts in a pan and roast them on low heat until they turn golden
Set them aside to cool down

WALNUTS
Walnuts are the seeds of the walnut tree
The seeds ripen in Autumn
When they are ripe, their green Shell falls off the seed
Simply pick and crack the Shell to reach the walnut kernel
Walnuts are an excellent source of antioxidants and omega- fatty acids!

BASIL
Basil is distinguished by its subtle fragrance in the herb garden
It is one of the oldest herbs known to mankind
Basil is good for digestion, it fights free radicals and it has strong anti-inflammatory properties

Trim the Basil plantd fresh sprouts
Thoroughly wash the cuttings an remove the leaves
Submerge the leaves in a water and vinegar bath (6 cups of water+1 tbsp of vinegar) for 8-10 minutes
Then, rinse and spin them in a salad spinner until very dry
Additionally, let the leaves air dry for better taste and consistency
The dry basil leaves are ready to prepare the Pesto

MAKING THE PUREE
A food processor is a great helper for pureeing all the ingredients
Place the roasted pine nuts, walnuts, cleaned garlic cloves, 1 tsp of salt, tsp of black pepper, and 2 tbsp of olive oil in the processing bowl that is fitted with a steel blade. Process them for 10-12 seconds

Gradually add the basil leaves and the olive oil
Process until the pesto is thoroughly pureed
If you prefer, add the parmesan and mix thoroughly
Use right away or store in the fridge or freezer

JARRING
Basil oxidizes very quickly!
So, youll want to be very efficient with the jarring process
Coat the inside of the storage jar with olive oil and salt will slow down the browning
Then, fill the jar with the Pesto
You can use a spoon to compress the pesto, to eliminate air bubbles in the jar
Drizzle a thin layer of olive oil on top of the pesto for an air/water tight seal

Finally, cover the jar with a lid keep it in the fridge

Homemade Basil Pesto is ready to us efor delicious chicken, meat, and pasta recipes

Enjoy the prep!

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