Asiago And Almond Pesto Recipes

ASIAGO PESTO BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a food processor, add the almonds and pulse until they are finely chopped. Add the basil, black pepper and cinnamon and process until incorporated. Add 1 cup of the cheese, pulse a few times, then with the machine still running, slowly add in the olive oil.
• Cut the bread in half, spread it with the pesto and bake on a cookie sheet for 7 to 10 minutes. At this point, remove the bread, sprinkle it with the remaining 1/3 cup of cheese and turn on the broiler. Broil the bread until the cheese has melted and starting to brown. Remove from the oven, cut it into 8 portions and serve immediately.

RIGATONI WITH GREEN OLIVE-ALMOND PESTO

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat.
• Drain pasta, reserving 6 tablespoons cooking liquid.
• Place olives, sliced almonds, parsley leaves, black pepper, and garlic in a food processor; pulse 3 times or until coarsely chopped.
• With processor on, add 2 tablespoons water and 1 teaspoon vinegar through the food chute, processing until mixture is finely chopped.
• Combine pasta, 1/4 cup reserved cooking liquid, and olive mixture in a large bowl; toss well.
• Add enough of remaining 2 tablespoons cooking liquid to make pasta mixture moist, tossing well to coat.
• Sprinkle with cheese.
• Serve hot 1 2/3 cup servings.

GRILLED TOFU WITH ASIAGO AND WALNUT PESTO

Steps:

• For the Asiago and Walnut Pesto:
• Place all the ingredients in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until smooth.
• Place a grill pan over medium-high heat or preheat a gas or charcoal grill. Cut the tofu in half diagonally to make 2 large triangles. Cut each large triangle in half to make 4 smaller triangles. Place the triangles, long side down, on a cutting board and carefully cut each into 3 slices. Brush the tofu triangles, on each side, with the extra-virgin olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Grill the tofu for 2 minutes on each side.
• Carefully transfer the tofu to a serving platter. Spoon the pesto over the tofu and serve.

EASY BASIL PESTO WITH ALMONDS

Steps:

• Combine basil, Parmesan cheese, almonds, olive oil, and garlic in a food processor. Pulse until blended. Pour in more olive oil, with the processor running, until pesto is thick and smooth.