Pesto Delluomo Povero Poor Mans Pesto Recipes

SIMPLE PESTO

Steps:

• Put basil and garlic in food processor. Run for about 10 seconds. Scrape sides and pulse until minced well. While the food processor is running, drizzle in olive oil until you have a smooth paste. Move the mixture to a bowl. Add Parmesan, salt, and pepper.

PESTO DELL'UOMO POVERO (POOR MAN'S PESTO)

Steps:

• Take a leftover loaf of stale french or italian bread. Crush but not to small and toast in oven untill light brown not burnt. It is very important that the bread is dry to create the right consistency not mush.
• Tear and chop fresh herbs (remembers some herbs are more potent than others so use caution) .
• Toast garlic cloves with skin on in a skillet until slightly tender, seven minutes. remove skins.
• Fresh garlic is fine but toasting it seems to help rid some of its effects (If using fresh use less).
• Grate the cheese.
• Combine ingredients in a blender and pulse.
• While pulsing slowly drizzle oil in until consistency has reached a very thick sauce or to the consistency you desire.
• Add zest and salt to personal taste.
• Use fresh this does keep for a day or so. If kept to long bread crumbs get soggy and that makes a gross mushy mess.

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.

DAVID'S POOR MAN'S PESTO

Steps:

• Toss all of the ingredients (except the pasta, of course) into a blender or food processor and pulse until fully combined. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed. Toss with cooked pasta. If it seems dry, stir in a few tablespoons of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency. Serve topped with more Parmesan and whatever other toppings (mushrooms, tofu, etc.) you prefer.