Italian Sweet Pepper Pesto Amalfi Coast Style Recipes

ITALIAN SWEET PEPPER PESTO, AMALFI COAST STYLE

Steps:

• Clean the peppers; slice off the tip and stem, then make a slit down the side. Scrape away the seeds and membranes, then thinly slice the peppers crosswise.
• In the bowl of a food processor fitted with the blade attachment, combine the peppers, basil, and garlic and pulse a few times just to incorporate the ingredients. Add the almonds, Parmigiano, and salt and continue to pulse until coarsely chopped, scraping down the sides as necessary.
• With the machine running, pour in the olive oil in a slow, steady stream and process until the ingredients are creamy and well-blended. Taste for salt, and adjust to taste, if necessary.
• Once finished, scrape the pesto into a small bowl and pour a thin layer of olive oil over the surface to prevent oxidation before use.

SWEET PEPPER PESTO

Steps:

• Grill or bake the peppers till the thin skins are black; this usually takes about 20 minutes.
• Take them out and put them into a plastic bag; they will soften and become moist, and the skin will peel off. Rinse the peppers to get rid of any flakes of burnt skin.
• Process the peppers, the pine nuts, and the olive oil in a blender till you obtain a creamy paste; thin it to a looser paste if you want, with more olive oil. If adding fresh basil, make sure the leaves are washed and patted dry before adding to the blender jar.
• Add salt and ground pepper to taste.
• Keep in a well-covered jar in the fridge, and use it up within two weeks.