Pesto sauce (for pizza especially)

spatchcock's Note:

A nice change from normal tomato-based pizza sauce. This is really nice with goat's cheese, roasted garlic pieces, and roasted halved cherry tomatoes.

• Total Time: 15 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 0 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 3 cups

• 2 cups fresh basil
• 1 cup fresh Italian parsley
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese or 1/2 cup romano cheese, grated
• 1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted
• 4 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons water

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender.
2. Puree until the mixture forms a smooth, thick paste.
3. Topping ideas for pesto pizza: Sliced crimini mushrooms.
4. Reconstituted sun-dried tomatoes.
5. Sliced black olives.
6. Shaved Parmesan cheese.

Reviews

[PartTimeVegetarian]

This turned out great! I omitted the pine nuts, but followed the rest of the recipe and used it to top a naan bread which I then sprinkled with parm/romano/asiago. I baked it @ 350 for 15+/- minutes. Just fabulous!

[fisabililah]

great recipe

[SusieQusie]

I love the addition of parsley, red pepper & lemon. The flavor is much brighter. While waiting for the nuts to cool, I threw the rest of it in the food processor & tasted as I went along. Surprisingly, I liked it MUCH better without the pine nuts. Saving this recipe to finish off my bumper crop of basil. Thanks for posting!