Grilled Squash With Walnut Parsley Pesto Recipes

GRILLED SHRIMP WITH WALNUT PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to high. Soak six 10-inch wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the pesto: Pulse the walnuts, lemon zest and juice, olive oil and a pinch of salt in a food processor until the walnuts are in small pieces. Pulse in the scallions, basil and parsley until fairly smooth. With the machine on, drizzle in 2 to 4 tablespoons cold water to loosen. Transfer to a bowl and season with salt.
• Make the shrimp: Thread the shrimp through the tail and top end onto the prepared skewers so they lie flat. Brush with the vegetable oil and season on both sides with salt and the red pepper flakes. Grill the shrimp on the hottest part of the grill until marked, 3 to 4 minutes; flip and grill until cooked through, 2 to 3 more minutes. Remove from the grill and drizzle with the red wine vinegar. Remove the shrimp from the skewers, if desired, and serve over mixed greens. Drizzle with some of the pesto and serve the remaining pesto on the side.

SEARED ACORN SQUASH WITH TAHINI SAUCE AND WALNUT-PARSLEY PESTO

Steps:

• For the squash: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Set the squash on its side. Position a large chef's knife in the ridge between the wedges and use a heavy wooden kitchen spoon to pound it in a bit. Continue to pound and rock the knife blade to get through the tough stem and then split the squash in half lengthwise. Scoop out and discard the seeds. Cut along each rib to make wedges.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle the squash wedges with some salt and pepper and lay them flat in the pan. Sear until golden brown, about 8 minutes. Flip, add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the pan, and continue cooking until the second side is deep golden brown, another 8 minutes or so. Transfer the pan to the oven and bake until the wedges are very tender, 15 to 20 minutes. If they are getting too dark, cover them with foil.
• For the walnut-parsley pesto: Press out the cloves from the Roasted Garlic heads and add them to a food processor along with the walnuts, parsley and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Pulse until pulverized. With the motor running, drizzle in the walnut oil. Add the Parmesan and some lemon juice, and pulse until just combined.
• For the tahini sauce: Whisk together the tahini and lemon juice in a small bowl (it will look thick and slightly dry). Add water, 1 teaspoon at a time, until the sauce is smooth but still thick (it should be pourable). Season with salt and pepper.
• To serve, arrange the squash on a platter, drizzle with tahini sauce, spoon over some pesto, and scatter the pomegranate seeds over the top.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cut the tops off the garlic heads, exposing the cloves but leaving the heads intact. Set the heads on a large piece of foil, drizzle with the walnut oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Wrap up the foil to make a pouch and place on a baking sheet. Bake until the garlic is soft and roasted, 35 to 40 minutes. Set aside to cool.

WALNUT AND PARSLEY PESTO

Steps:

• Place garlic and salt in a mortar; smash and mash with the pestle until it becomes a paste, 5 to 8 minutes. Add walnuts; mash walnuts into a paste until you reach your desired texture (coarse or smoother), another 5 to 8 minutes. Add parsley and mash to break up and blend with the walnut/garlic mixture, about 4 minutes. Add lemon juice and olive oil; stir, mash, and emulsify liquids into the mixture until it becomes very thick and well blended, 8 to 10 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings. If mixture seems too thick, whisk in a tablespoon of water, or as needed.
• Spread on bread, use on pizza or pasta, or on roasted chicken. The taste is just like garlic butter, so use it as such.

SPAGHETTI SQUASH WITH PARSLEY WALNUT PESTO

Steps:

• Pierce squash all over with a sharp small knife. Cook in a microwave oven (see cooks' note, below) at high power (100 percent) 8 minutes, then turn over and microwave until squash gives when pressed gently, 8 to 10 minutes more. Cool squash 5 minutes.
• While squash is cooking, toast nuts in a dry small heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring frequently, until fragrant and a shade darker, about 6 minutes, then cool completely.
• Pulse nuts and garlic in a food processor until finely ground. Add parsley, oil, cheese, water, salt, pepper, and zest and pulse until parsley is coarsely chopped.
• While squash is still hot, cut off stem from squash and discard, then carefully halve squash lengthwise (it will emit steam) and discard seeds. Working over a bowl, scrape out squash flesh with a fork, loosening and separating strands. Toss with pesto in a bowl.

GRILLED SQUASH WITH WALNUT-PARSLEY PESTO

Steps:

• Heat a grill or grill pan to medium-high. In a food processor, pulse parsley, walnuts, garlic, Parmesan, lemon zest, and lemon juice until combined, about 10 seconds. With machine running, add olive oil in a slow, steady stream and process until a paste forms. Season pesto with salt and pepper and transfer to a small bowl.
• Clean and lightly oil hot grill. Season squash with salt and pepper. Working in batches, grill squash, turning occasionally, until lightly charred and tender, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a platter and serve with pesto.