Pesto Walnut Risotto Recipes

WALNUT AND RICOTTA PESTO - MICHAEL CHIARELLO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Ready a baking sheet and spread the walnuts on in a single layer, then place in the oven and toast until fragrant and lightly browned, about 10 minutes.
• Remove from oven and let cool, then chop coarsely.
• In a small skillet over medium high temperature, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil then add the garlic and sauté until lightly golden.
• Transfer the garlic into a food processor or mortar and add the basil leaves and toasted walnuts, then process or grind until minced well.
• Add the ricotta, the remaining oil (3 tablespoons), and lemon zest and process until well blended.
• Transfer mixture to a bowl, stir in the pecorino cheese, and season to taste with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.
• Serve over 1 1/2 pounds cooked pasta or use as a dip.

PESTO WALNUT RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a heavy saucepan. Add the onion and cook over low heat until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring, another 3 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring the stock to a boil in another saucepan. Reduce the heat and keep it at a simmer.
• Slowly add 1 cup of the hot stock to the rice, stirring constantly. Continue to stir, allowing the rice to simmer. When the stock has been absorbed, add 1/2 cup and allow it to simmer, stirring well until it has been absorbed. Continue adding the broth 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly, until almost all the broth has been added.
• Add the pesto and continue cooking, adding the remaining broth in 1/4 cup amounts, stirring constantly, until the rice is slightly creamy and tender. Altogether, the rice should cook for about 25 to 30 minutes. When all the broth has been absorbed, stir in the Parmesan, walnuts, and black pepper. Serve immediatlely. Enjoy!
• Note:.
• You may substitute parsley pesto or some other pesto for the basil for a nice variation.

WALNUT PESTO

Steps:

• Blend basil, walnuts, olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice together in a food processor until pesto has a paste-like consistency.

SMALL BATCH DILL PESTO

Steps:

• Place dill fronds (a few stems are OK), walnuts, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes into the bowl of a food processor. If you have a mini or small food processor, it will be large enough for this recipe.
• Pulse until everything is minced well, scraping down the sides as necessary. With the machine running, drizzle in the olive oil, blending for a few seconds until smooth.
• If not serving immediately, store the pesto in an airtight container and chill until ready to use.

EASY WALNUT BASIL PESTO

Steps:

• Pulse walnuts, olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic in a food processor until walnuts are finely chopped. Add basil leaves a little at a time, pulsing until a smooth paste forms. Mix in Parmesan cheese.

RISOTTO WITH HERB PESTO, POTATO, AND GREEN BEANS

Steps:

• Pulse pine nuts, garlic, and herbs in a food processor until finely chopped. Season with salt and pepper; with motor running, stream in 1/3 cup oil until combined. Season to taste.
• Bring a pot of water to a boil and season with salt. Add green beans and cook until tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Using a spider or slotted spoon, transfer to a plate. Add potato to pot and simmer until tender but not falling apart, about 6 minutes; drain.
• In same pot, combine broth, 2 cups water, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then reduce heat to medium-low and maintain a bare simmer, partially covered (to avoid evaporation).
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large straight-sided skillet over medium. Add onion and a pinch of salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add rice and cook, stirring, until translucent and grains begin to make a popping sound, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in wine; cook until mostly evaporated, about 30 seconds.
• Ladle about 1 cup broth mixture into skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until most of broth has been absorbed and bottom of skillet stays visible for a second or two as you mix, 2 to 3 minutes. Continue ladling broth into skillet, about 1/2 cup at a time (or enough to just cover rice), stirring often and allowing rice to absorb most of broth before adding more, 15 to 20 minutes. When rice is cooked through but still al dente and sauce has thickened, stir in 1/2 cup pesto, green beans, and potato; cook just until heated through, about 1 minute.
• Remove from heat and add cheese, a good drizzle of oil, and a few spoonfuls of remaining broth. Stir vigorously to create a silky sauce. Check seasoning and stir in more pesto, if desired. Serve with a drizzle of oil, topped with more cheese and pepper.

PASTA WITH CREAMY WALNUT PESTO

Steps:

• Boil the pasta. Meanwhile, put the walnuts and garlic in a food processor and whizz until finely chopped. Add the basil, cheese, butter and oil and pulse a few more times. Season.
• Pour the cream into a pan and warm through. Add two-thirds of the pesto, then gently heat to loosen it. When the pasta is ready, drain, reserving 2 tbsp of the cooking water, then mix both with the sauce. Serve immediately, sprinkled with the extra Parmesan and basil, if using. The leftover pesto will keep in the fridge for up to a week, or frozen for up to a month.