Pacific Rim Pesto Recipes

LAMB LOIN WITH PESTO MINT SAUCE

Steps:

• Spread lamb loin generously with mustard. Wrap with bacon or pancetta. Sprinkle with herbs. Preheat oven to 350°. Grill or panfry lamb on all sides. Place on cookie sheet or roasting pan and put in oven to finish cooking off. If you like your lamb rare, this should take about 5-10 minutes. Cook longer for more well-done lamb. Remove from oven and let meat rest 10 minutes before slicing. To make sauce, combine pesto with mint sauce. Add fresh mint and rosemary. Combine well. Serve with sliced lamb.

PESTO

Steps:

• Combine basil, garlic, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, and nuts in the bowl of a food processor or blender. Blend to a smooth paste. Add parsley if desired.

PROPER PESTO

Steps:

• Crush garlic and pinch of kosher salt in a mortar with the pestle until garlic is mashed and paste-like, 1 or 2 minutes. Add basil in 3 or 4 additions, crushing and pounding down the leaves until they form a fairly fine paste, about 8 minutes or more depending on size of leaves and thickness of stems. Add and pound in pine nuts.
• Transfer a handful of grated cheese to mortar and pound into the sauce. Add another handful of cheese and incorporate into the mixture. Continue adding cheese a handful at a time until completely incorporated, about 5 minutes.
• Drizzle in olive oil 1 tablespoon at a time, pounding it into the sauce. When all the olive oil has been added and emulsified into the mixture, transfer pesto to a bowl and drizzle surface with olive oil.

SUNDRIED TOMATO PESTO

Steps:

• Process all the above ingredients except for cheese in food processor until smooth. Add cheese, mix well, and refrigerate up to 2 days. Can also be frozen.

PACIFIC RIM SALMON

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the pineapple juice, soy sauce, horseradish, parsley, 3 teaspoons sesame oil, honey and pepper. Pour 2/3 cup marinade into a large resealable plastic bag; add salmon and green onions. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate for 1 to 1-1/2 hours, turning occasionally. Add remaining sesame oil to remaining marinade. Cover and refrigerate for basting., Drain and discard marinade. Using long-handled tongs, moisten a paper towel with cooking oil and lightly coat the grill rack. Grill salmon, skin side down, covered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from the heat for 8-12 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork, basting frequently with reserved marinade.

PESTO QUICHE

Steps:

• In unbaked pie shell, layer 1 cup mozzarella, pesto, sun-dried tomatoes and then remaining cheese. Blend together eggs and milk. Pour batter over top of tomato/cheese mixture. Bake at 400° for 10 minutes, or until crust is lightly browned. Reduce temperature to 300° and bake until quiche is set and knife comes out clean.

PACIFIC RIM CUCUMBER SALAD

Steps:

• Stir rice vinegar, sugar, and bay leaf together in a small saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil. Whisk the boiling mixture until the sugar dissolves completely; remove from heat. Discard the bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside to cool.
• Spread cucumber and radish slices onto a layer of paper towels. Sprinkle sea salt over the cucumber and radish slices. Set aside for 10 minutes. Rinse under cold running water and pat dry with paper towel.
• Toss cucumber, radish, sweet onion, tomatoes, chives, cilantro, garlic, and white pepper together in a large bowl. Drizzle rice vinegar dressing over the salad; toss to coat.