Basil Pesto Potato Salad Recipes

PESTO POTATO SALAD

Steps:

• Put the potatoes in a large steamer basket over boiling water and steam for 20 minutes, or until they are cooked though, but the skins remain intact. Set them aside until they are cool enough to handle. Quarter the potatoes and put them in a large bowl. Add the peppers and the pesto and toss gently to combine. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and chill.
• Toast the pine nuts in a dry pan over a medium heat until fragrant and golden brown, stirring frequently, about 3 minutes. In a food processor, process the pine nuts and the garlic until minced. Add the basil, Parmesan cheese and lemon juice and process until finely minced. With processor on, slowly pour the oil down the food chute. Process until well blended. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

PESTO POTATO AND GREEN BEAN SALAD

Steps:

• Place the potatoes in a large steamer basket fitted over a pot of boiling water. Cover and steam for 5 minutes. Add the green beans to the potatoes in the steamer and continue to cook, covered, for another 4 minutes. Drain and immediately plunge into an ice bath to cool.
• Transfer the vegetables to a large serving bowl. Add the pesto and stir to coat evenly. Season with salt and pepper and serve.
• Make a big batch of this pesto in the summer when the basil is fresh and plentiful. You can freeze it in ice cube trays, bag up the cubes, and have it year-round to use as a pasta sauce or to enhance the flavor of one. It is also excellent as a sandwich spread.
• Toast the pine nuts in a small, dry skillet over medium heat until fragrant and golden brown, shaking the pan frequently, about 3 minutes.
• In a food processor, process the pine nuts and garlic together until minced. Add the basil, Parmesan, lemon juice, and salt and pepper and process until finely minced. With the machine running, slowly pour the oil in a steady stream through the feed tube and process until well blended.

POTATO SALAD WITH PESTO AND BACON

Steps:

• For this recipe, use the tiniest new potatoes you can find; I used fresh baby potatoes from a farmers' market that were about the size of marbles. My potatoes were leftovers, so they were already boiled, but feel free to cook potatoes if needed; it will take longer to make this recipe though.
• In a mixing bowl, place the potatoes, onions, bacon and chives; lightly toss together.
• In a small bowl, stir together the sour cream, mayo and pesto; feel free to add more pesto if you wish.
• Add pesto mixture to potatoes and combine; taste. It will need salt and pepper.
• Chill for at least one hour before serving to let the flavours blend; taste before serving as it may need more salt. If desired, sprinkle parmesan over top of salad before serving; it's not necessary but it adds another flavour element to the salad that I felt went well.
• This recipe would easily double, if not triple.

TANGY PESTO POTATO SALAD

Steps:

• Place potatoes into a large pot and cover with salted water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and cool.
• Mix yogurt, mayonnaise, eggs, pickle relish, pesto seasoning, paprika, celery salt, and black pepper together in a bowl; add potatoes and mix well. Chill salad in the refrigerator for 1 hour.