Ramp Pesto
A pesto is a green sauce or paste than can be used on top of pizzas, salads, sandwiches or thinned out with yogurt for a delicious dip. This variation is made with ramps (green and garlic flavor in one!) and walnuts, but the basic formula is this: greens + garlic + lemon juice + toasted nuts + salty cheese (optional) + oil = delicious.
Quickly blanch the leaves of the ramps in boiling water until they turn a bright green and then pass under cold water to stop the cooking. Roughly chop. If not already done, toast the nuts in a dry pan for a few minutes, being careful not to burn.
Add the chopped ramps, lemon juice, nuts, cheese, spinach/parsley and salt into the base of a food processor.
Pulse until it forms a rough paste. Turn to low and slowly trickle in the oil while the machine is still on, blending all of them together and stopping occasionally to push down the sides.
Taste and adjust seasoning (add more salt, or more lemon juice if it's too salty already.) Freezes well, or store in your fridge tightly sealed for a week or more and serve on pasta, sandwiches, or mixed with yogurt for a veggie dip.
Ingredients
Directions
Quickly blanch the leaves of the ramps in boiling water until they turn a bright green and then pass under cold water to stop the cooking. Roughly chop. If not already done, toast the nuts in a dry pan for a few minutes, being careful not to burn.
Add the chopped ramps, lemon juice, nuts, cheese, spinach/parsley and salt into the base of a food processor.
Pulse until it forms a rough paste. Turn to low and slowly trickle in the oil while the machine is still on, blending all of them together and stopping occasionally to push down the sides.
Taste and adjust seasoning (add more salt, or more lemon juice if it's too salty already.) Freezes well, or store in your fridge tightly sealed for a week or more and serve on pasta, sandwiches, or mixed with yogurt for a veggie dip.