Perfect basil pesto

As a vegan, its hard to find a pesto that doesn't contain parmesan. Even as a vegetarian, its hard as most parmesans contain rennet so they are technically not vegetarian. So is there a good pesto out there that vegans and vegetarian's can eat? There sure is.

Although the pesto we are talking about is not one that is purchased from a shop, its one made in your own kitchen preferably using ingredients from your own garden.

Using a food processor, this pesto will be made in, oh around 5 minutes (you couldn't get to the shop and back in that time).

Ingredients

100g fresh basil leaves

1/4 cup raw nuts (pine, cashew or walnuts are good)

2 garlic cloves, peeled

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

salt to taste

Method

Combine basil, raw nuts and garlic in a food processor and blend until the ingredients start to form a paste, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Slowly drizzle in a tablespoon or two of oil along with salt and process until smooth and creamy (adding more oil, if needed).

Pesto can be used in pasta's, spread on sourdough bread, used in soups or stirred through risotto's.

www.tarianpantry.com.au