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The Ten Most Recent Comments By olioli

From Recipes

Dinner Tonight: Pesto Trapanese

The combination of Thai basil, cashews, extra-virgin olive oil and a little salt is awesome. The cashews add a touch of sweetness, but are just as soft and flavorful as pine nuts (and quite a bit cheaper). The Thai basil has a very interesting flavor, also slightly sweet and just a touch like anise (but not too much so -- I don't like anise all that much, but this was perfect). Whenever I've made it, people request the recipe. Can be eaten with with crackers, it's that good.

olioli at 5:35PM on 04/08/08

Responses to Comments by olioli

From Recipes

Dinner Tonight: Pesto Trapanese

Arugula or rocket pesto is a traditional Italian pesto - you can even buy it in a jar (no cheese) in most grocery stores in Italy. People adore arugula there (and so do I!).

I have used pumpkin seeds, almonds, cashews as well as arugula, basil, oregano and spinach for pestos. I don't use cheese because I'm allergic to dairy but raw cashews (soaked, first) make a nice cheesy texture.

Does anyone else freeze up their pesto in ice cube trays for later use? I just throw a few cubes into a pot with plain tomato sauce from a can for a delicious marinara (way cheaper than the pre-seasoned stuff).

jennconspiracy at 11:51PM on 04/17/08

From Recipes

Dinner Tonight: Pesto Trapanese

Rocket pesto is definitely awesome. I used to work in a shop that sold basil pesto and rocket pesto and started to carry another kind right before I left. I know it had pistachios and some kind of chili in it, but that's all I can remember. And it was amazing, I'd love to know what else went into it.

renzata at 2:59PM on 04/09/08

From Recipes

Dinner Tonight: Pesto Trapanese

Ramps and olive oil marinated feta and walnuts/almonds is one of my seasonal greenmarket favorites.

LIRC at 12:07PM on 04/09/08

From Recipes

Dinner Tonight: Pesto Trapanese

I really like the spicy Pesto Pantesco Mario Batali wrote about some time ago on this site. The recipe is here.

emmab at 9:49AM on 04/09/08

From Recipes

Dinner Tonight: Pesto Trapanese

Recently, I made a parsley pesto to swirl into a potato soup with chorizo. It was very good. Parsley Pesto

schnitzel at 9:48AM on 04/09/08

From Recipes

Dinner Tonight: Pesto Trapanese

I see walnuts used in pesto a lot. When the pesto trend began gathering steam many years ago, I saw several parsley pestos, too. You don't see that as much anymore.

MelsDiner at 6:52PM on 04/08/08

From Recipes

Dinner Tonight: Pesto Trapanese

I've made pesto with oregano and walnuts along with generous amounts of garlic and think it's just amazing.

mwheeler at 5:53PM on 04/08/08