Showing posts with label Pesto. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pesto. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Pizza Toppings


Brussels Sprouts Pizza with Balsamic Red Onions

 Brussels sprouts pizza topped with balsamic caramelized onions (or opt for red sauce, just eyeball the amount) and mozzarella, baked to crispy, golden perfection! Recipe yields one large, 12-inch pizza (or two smaller, 9-inch pizzas).
Ingredients
 
Balsamic red onions
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 medium or 1 extra-large red onion
  • Pinch red pepper flakes
  • Dash salt
  • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
Brussels sprouts
  • 8 ounces (1/2 pound) Brussels sprouts
  • 1½ to 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and place a pizza stone on the middle rack if you have one. Slice your onions into thin rounds (the thinner you slice them, the faster they will cook).
  2. Prepare the Brussels by slicing off the tough ends and discarding them. Use your fingers to pull off the individual leaves around the outside, then trim off the newly exposed tough end, and continue until you have broken the sprout into leaves. Repeat for about half of the Brussels sprouts, then slice the rest into thin slices from top to bottom. Drizzle the sprouts with 1½ teaspoons olive oil and toss well. Rub the oil into the sprout leaves so they're all lightly coated in oil, adding another dash of oil if necessary. Toss with a sprinkle of salt and pepper and set aside.
  3. To prepare the red onions, warm 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, a pinch of red pepper flakes and a dash of salt. Toss to combine. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes, or until the onions are nice and soft. The thinner you sliced them, the sooner they will cook. Pour in the balsamic vinegar and stir to combine. Continue cooking, uncovered, for a few more minutes, until the balsamic vinegar has condensed and mostly absorbed into the onions. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
  4. Prepare the pizza dough as directed. If you're using store-bought dough like me, I'd roll it out into one pizza. If you're using my pizza dough recipe, I'd make two pizzas. I like to roll out the dough on pieces of parchment paper for easy transfer to the oven. For best results, roll the dough out as thin as reasonably possible while maintaining an even surface level.
  5. Top the dough with an even layer of red onions, followed by mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle the Brussels on top, then finish with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese.
  6. Transfer one pizza to the oven at a time (if you don't have a baking stone, bake your pizza on a cookie sheet). Bake until the crust is golden, the cheese is bubbly and the Brussels sprouts are crispy on the edges, about 10 to 14 minutes. Repeat with remaining pizza, if you have one. Top the pizza(s) with a light sprinkle of freshly ground black pepper (trust me!) and red pepper flakes if you'd like, then slice and serve.
Pesto Pizza


 Ingredients
 Instrurctions
  1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
  2. Spread pesto on pizza crust. Top with tomatoes, bell peppers, olives, red onions, artichoke hearts and feta cheese.
  3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted and browned.

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Broccilli Pesto**********

Serves: 4 (with Pasta)

See  my other Pesto recipes for variations.  This photo reflects opportunism in good buys.  Today, I got a great buy on broccoli and kale and a reasonable one on cashews, whilst basil and walnuts were quite expensive.  This turned out really, really good with a mash up with my Linguine recipe.  I just swapped the pesto and beans in it, with this!  Yum...

Ingredients

    Salt
    4 cups broccoli florets/spinach (packed)
    ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for grating
    ½ cup walnuts
    3 Garlic Cloves
    ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
    ½ cup packed basil leaves
    Ground black pepper

Instructions

Bring 1 tablespoon of salt and 3 litres/quarts of water to boil in a large soup kettle. Add broccoli and cook until just tender and still bright green, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to a food processor.

Add the Parmesan, nuts, oil, basil, and a generous sprinkling of salt and pepper and process to pesto texture.

Add 227grams, ½ pound bite-size pasta, such as penne and  2 ears corn, kernels removed (about 1 cup) for a pasta meal.  Other pasta forms and veggies can be used for variety.

Source:  Top 10 ways to cook Broccilli

Basil Pesto

Preparation Time: 3 min,  Cooking Time: 3 min,  Yield:  1.5 cups.


This recipe can be quite versatile by swapping out seasonal greens for the basil and more economical nuts.  For example you could use kale or spinach and cashews, walnuts or almonds.

Ingredients:

3 cups fresh basil, packed
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1/3 cup pine nuts
3 medium cloves of garlic, minced
¼ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. ground black pepper


Method:

1.  As an option for enhanced flavor, toast your nuts and unpeeled whole garlic cloves until golden, tossing the pan occasionally.  Leave the garlic in a little longer. Peel the garlic when cooled.

2.  Rinse your basil leaves and pat dry.

3.  Add them to the food processor with the pine nuts and pulse several times.

4.  Next, add the olive oil and blend until smooth.

5.  Add the Parmesan cheese and pulse.  You may need to scrape any ingredients that have stuck to the side of your processor throughout the blending process.

6.  Mince garlic cloves before adding to the processor and pulse again.

7.  Once you’ve added your garlic, add the salt and pepper, blending one last time.

Transfer your pesto to a clean jar. A thin layer of olive oil should begin to accumulate on top of the pesto and refrigerate.  For the pesto to keep up to a year,  add a thin layer of olive oil to coat the top between uses or it will go moldy.  The pesto may also be refrigerated.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Linguine, Potato, Green Bean and Basil Pesto**********

This is a cheap and quick "peasant" style meal with the unusual combination of pasta and potato, making it a filling and hearty meal.  Great after a long day with  a bottle of your favorite.  If possible, I don't peel spuds as much of the nutrition is in the skin.

Serves 4:     Preparation time 15 mins:     Cooking time 25 mins

Trimming and slicing the beans is the time consumer here.

Ingredients:-

    4 Liters of salted water
    1- 2 large potatos diced
    350 g green beans, trimmed and sliced lengthwise
    500 g dried linguine or trenette
    190 ml basil pesto
    knob of butter
    1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan

Method:-

    Bring salted water to boil in a pot.
    Add the potato first and simmer for 12 minutes.
    Add the beans 5 minutes after the potato, to continue to simmer for 7 minutes.  (Total of 12 mins)
    Add the pasta to cook according to packet directions, bring to boil and then simmer until al dente.
    (Total approx 23 mins)
    Drain, reserving 2 tablespoons of cooking water.
    Put half the pesto in a large bowl.
    Add the cooking water, potatoes, beans and pasta, and the butter, and toss well.
    Spoon the rest of the pesto on top, sprinkle with parmesan, lightly toss and serve immediately.

Inspired by the recipe from SBS:- Trenette with pesto, potato and green beans