Pesto Rice Peppers Recipes

THREE PEPPER PESTO

Steps:

• Place the Parmesan cheese and olive oil in a blender or food processor; blend until smooth. Add the red bell pepper, basil, red pepper flakes, and black pepper; blend again until smooth.

EASY CHICKEN PESTO STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Cut peppers lengthwise in half; remove stems and seeds. Place peppers on a baking sheet, skin side up. Broil 4 in. from heat until skins blister, about 5 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°., Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine chicken, rice and pesto. When cool enough to handle, fill peppers with chicken mixture; return to baking sheet. Bake until heated through, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese; bake until cheese is melted, 3-5 minutes. If desired, sprinkle with basil.

PESTO RICE PEPPERS

Steps:

• In large bowl, mix together rice, cheese, pesto, sun-dried tomatoes and pine nuts; set aside.
• Cut peppers in half through stems (retain stems); seed and core.
• Fill each pepper half with rice stuffing. Place, stuffing side up, in baking dish.
• Cover with foil; bake in 350°F (180°C) oven for 35 minutes.
• Topping: Remove foil. Sprinkle cheese over peppers; bake uncovered, for about 5 minutes longer or until cheese is golden.

MEXICAN-STYLE PESTO WITH RICE OR WHOLE GRAIN PASTA

Steps:

• Set aside or prepare the stock.
• Char and blister the chile peppers by placing over a burner, an open flame or under a broiler, and turning until black. Place the charred peppers in a small bowl and cover until cool enough to handle. Peel and seed the peppers and add them to a food processor. Meanwhile, lightly toast nuts and add to the processor bowl. Add the cilantro, spicy greens, marjoram, garlic, cumin, lime juice, a splash of stock, salt, and pepper, then pour in about 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil and pulse the processor to form the pesto sauce. Place in a container, cover, and store in the refrigerator for a make-ahead meal.
• To serve, place the pesto in the bottom of a large serving bowl. Heat a large pot of water to a boil for pasta, salt the water and cook pasta to al dente. Just before draining, add a ladle of starchy cooking water to the pesto, drain the pasta and add the hot pasta to the serving bowl and toss 1 to 2 minutes, serve immediately with grated Manchego on top.
• Place the cheese rind, herb bundle, onion, celery, carrots, lemon rind, bay leaves, chicken stock, and water into a pot and bring to a bubble, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Simmer at least 1 hour, and then remove the rind, herb bundle, and vegetables with a slotted spoon or strainer.

PESTO RICE

Steps:

• Place all in a rice cooker cover rice with water. Submerged 1 inch. Press start and relax till done.
• Alternate Method of cooking:.
• Or cook stove top adding 2 cups water to all ingredients.
• Bring to boil and lower to simmer cover and cook for 20 minutes.
• Fluff with fork and enjoy.
• Garnish with pine nuts and basil.

DILL PESTO

Steps:

• Combine leaves of dill sprig, pine nuts, parsley, garlic, and Parmesan cheese in a food processor. Pulse until completely combined, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add 1 tablespoon olive oil, a small squirt of lemon juice, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper; pulse again.
• Taste for seasonings. Add 1 more tablespoon olive oil and pulse again. Continue adding olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper until pesto has the desired flavor and consistency.

PESTO CHICKEN AND RICE

Steps:

• Heat 3 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the fennel and cook, stirring frequently, until it begins to become translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the chicken and season with salt and pepper. Add the shallots and continue to cook until the chicken is browned on all sides, about 3 minutes.
• Add the rice and cook, stirring, until it is toasted, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in the broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat so the broth simmers; cover the skillet and simmer until the rice is tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Bring a medium saucepan of water to a roaring boil.
• Meanwhile, fill a small bowl with ice water. Set aside.
• Cook the pine nuts in a medium skillet over medium heat, shaking frequently, until lightly toasted, 3 to 5 minutes. Keep an eye on them, as they can burn quickly.
• When the water is boiling, add a handful of salt (you want the water as salty as the ocean), then add the basil leaves. Use a slotted spoon, small strainer or spider to press down the leaves, making sure they're fully submerged in the water. Count to five, remove the leaves with the slotted spoon and immediately plunge them into the ice water for 1 to 2 minutes.
• Remove the basil from the ice water and squeeze out excess water.
• Put the toasted pine nuts in a food processor. (If you don't have a food processor, a blender is fine.) Pulse to chop the nuts. Add the garlic and basil and pulse. Once a creamy, green paste forms, with the motor running, slowly pour in the remaining 1/2 cup of olive oil, processing until the oil is fully incorporated. Transfer the paste to a medium bowl and fold in 1 cup of the Parmesan with a rubber spatula. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the pesto and butter, if using. Serve the chicken and rice topped with fresh basil and the remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan.