Asparagus Pesto Recipes

ASPARAGUS WITH BASIL PESTO

Steps:

• Fill medium sized pot with water, add a generous amount of salt (as if you were salting the water for pasta) and bring to a boil.
• Be sure asparagus is clean, then break off the end of one piece to see where the woody stalk starts.
• Trim the other asparagus pieces to that size, then cut asparagus on the diagonal into pieces about 2 inches long.
• When the water comes to a boil, add the asparagus and cook 2-3 minutes, depending on the thickness of the asparagus. Don't overcook, use a timer!
• When asparagus is lightly cooked but still fairly crisp, drain it into a colander placed in the sink.
• When the water has drained, put the hot asparagus into a bowl; add the pesto, and let it melt for a minute or two.
• Then toss the asparagus with the pesto and serve immediately.

ASPARAGUS PESTO

Steps:

• Cut the cooked asparagus spears into thirds. Put in a food processor with the basil, pine nuts, garlic, and salt and pepper, to taste. Keep in mind you will add Parmesan as well, so be careful not to oversalt. With the machine running, slowly add the cup of olive oil. When the sauce is about the consistency of mayonnaise, it has enough oil. Pulse in the Parmesan. Thin with water, if necessary, to achieve a slick, saucy pesto. Scrape into a bowl or jar, cover, and refrigerate until needed. You should have about 3 cups. (Keeps about 2 to 3 days, refrigerated.)
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ASPARAGUS PESTO

Steps:

• In the bowl of a food processor, combine asparagus, basil, and oil and pulse until combined. Add Parmesan, almonds, garlic, and salt and blend until combined.
• Store in an airtight container in the fridge up to 1 week.

ASPARAGUS PESTO PASTA

Steps:

• Cook 1 pound trimmed asparagus in salted boiling water until crisp-tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to ice water to cool; drain and pat dry, then roughly chop. Puree the asparagus in a food processor with 1 cup fresh parsley, 1/2 cup fresh mint, 1/3 cup toasted unsalted pistachios, 1 garlic clove, 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest, 1 teaspoon kosher salt and a few grinds of pepper. Drizzle in 1/3 cup olive oil and puree until smooth. Toss with 1 pound cooked pasta and 3/4 cup parmesan, adding pasta cooking water as needed to loosen.

ASPARAGUS PESTO

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it. Add the asparagus and cook until fully tender but not mushy, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain well, reserving some of the cooking liquid, and let the asparagus cool slightly.
• Transfer the asparagus to a food processor and add the garlic, pine nuts, 2 tablespoons of the oil, Parmesan, a pinch of salt and a couple of tablespoons of the cooking liquid. Process the mixture, stopping to scrape down the sides of the container if necessary, and gradually add the remaining oil and a bit more of the reserved cooking liquid to moisten if necessary. Add the lemon juice and season with salt and pepper to taste, pulse one last time, and serve over pasta, fish or chicken (or cover and refrigerate for up to a day).

RAW ASPARAGUS PESTO

Steps:

• Put everything in a food processor.
• Slowly add the olive oil.
• Serve cold.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Mix pesto with garlic and oil and toss with asparagus on a baking sheet.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Roast in a preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until done to your.
• liking.
• Sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan cheese and serve hot.