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Creamy Garlic Scape Pesto with Parmesan

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A fresh and flavorful pesto made with garlic scapes, parmesan, and a touch of creaminess. Perfect for spring and summer meals, this pesto is quick to prepare and versatile for many dishes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup chopped garlic scapes (about 100 grams)
  • ½ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese (about 50 grams)
  • ⅓ cup unsalted cashews, soaked for 30 minutes then drained (about 45 grams)
  • ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil (about 80 ml)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (about half a lemon)
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream or Greek yogurt (about 30 ml)
  • ¾ teaspoon salt (preferably flaky sea salt), or to taste
  • Pinch of freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Soak ⅓ cup of unsalted cashews in warm water for about 30 minutes. Drain before using.
  2. Rinse and roughly chop 1 cup of garlic scapes into 1-inch pieces.
  3. In a food processor, combine chopped garlic scapes, soaked cashews, ½ cup grated Parmesan, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, and ¾ teaspoon salt. Pulse a few times to start breaking down the mixture.
  4. With the processor running, slowly drizzle in ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil to emulsify and create a smooth texture. Stop occasionally to scrape down the sides with a spatula.
  5. Add 2 tablespoons heavy cream or Greek yogurt and pulse a few more times until desired creaminess is reached. Add a teaspoon of water or more olive oil if a thinner consistency is preferred.
  6. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, lemon juice, and freshly ground black pepper as needed.
  7. Transfer pesto to a clean jar and store in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Notes

Soak nuts to soften and reduce bitterness for a creamier texture. Slowly drizzle olive oil while blending to create a smooth emulsion. Adjust lemon juice and salt carefully to balance flavors. Store pesto with a thin layer of olive oil on top to prevent browning. For vegan version, substitute parmesan with nutritional yeast and heavy cream with coconut yogurt or cashew cream.

Nutrition

Keywords: garlic scape pesto, creamy pesto, homemade pesto, spring recipe, parmesan pesto, easy pesto, garlic scapes

Find it online: https://shimmersnack.com/creamy-garlic-scape-pesto-with-parmesan-recipe-easy-homemade-flavorful/