Purple Pesto Recipes

PURPLE PESTO

Steps:

• 1. In a food processor fitted with a steel blade, process basil, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts and parmesan. Slowly add the oil; add the rosemary and chiles. Blend to desired consistency. Makes about 1 1/2 cups.

PURPLE BASIL PESTO

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients except the olive oil in a food processor until thoroughly combined and the consistency you like.
• With the food processor running, drizzle in the olive oil through that chute thingie. Add more salt to taste if necessary.
• Store pesto in the refrigerator for several days or freeze.

PURPLE PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook rigatoni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until tender yet firm to the bite, about 13 minutes. Drain.
• Place the pasta in a bowl. Add beets, artichoke hearts, olive oil, basil, and oregano. Mix thoroughly.

PURPLE KALE PESTO WITH MEYER LEMONS

Steps:

• First, zest your whole lemon. (It's much easier to zest before you cut into it!) Then juice your lemon. Do NOT add the pith to the pesto or it will make it bitter. (Compost it instead.)
• Put lemon juice, lemon zest, extra virgin olive oil, white wine, and garlic cloves into a blender or food processor. Add the purple kale, bit by bit until fully blended.
• Grate parmesan. Depending on whether your blender/processor can handle it, you can either add the grated parmesan and nuts to finish the recipe OR grind the nuts separately in a Ninja, then mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl.
• Once all ingredients are blended/mixed together, add salt to taste. Quantity needed may be none or up to 1/2 tsp depending on the parmesan you use and your taste preferences.
• Garnish with a touch of lemon zest and garden-fresh seasonal flowers. We used pansies, arugula flowers, and rosemary flowers. Serve over pasta, on toasted bread, or however you like. Most vibrant purple color when eaten immediately. For purple kale pesto stored in your fridge, restore color vibrancy with a splash of fresh lemon juice.