Roasted Almond Ricotta Pesto With Olives Recipes

EASY BASIL PESTO WITH ALMONDS

Steps:

• Combine basil, Parmesan cheese, almonds, olive oil, and garlic in a food processor. Pulse until blended. Pour in more olive oil, with the processor running, until pesto is thick and smooth.

PERCIATELLI WITH ROASTED TOMATO AND ALMOND PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Line large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Place tomato halves, 2 tablespoons oil, and 1 1/2 tablespoons oregano in large bowl. Sprinkle with salt; toss. Arrange tomato halves, cut side down, on baking sheet (drizzle any remaining mixture from bowl over tomatoes). Place unpeeled garlic cloves on prepared baking sheet with tomatoes. Bake until garlic is tender, about 30 minutes. Transfer garlic to work surface. Turn tomatoes over, cut side up. Roast until tomatoes begin to brown in spots but are still soft, about 30 minutes longer. Cool tomatoes on baking sheet.
• Meanwhile, spread almonds on small baking sheet and toast in oven alongside tomatoes until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Cool.
• Peel garlic. Place in processor along with 2/3 of roasted tomatoes, 4 tablespoons toasted almonds, and crushed red pepper. Pulse to coarse puree. With machine running, gradually add 5 tablespoons oil. Transfer pesto to bowl; season with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Pesto can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Place remaining roasted tomatoes in small bowl; cover and chill. Store remaining 1 tablespoon almonds airtight at room temperature.
• Chop remaining 1/3 of roasted tomatoes. Coarsely chop remaining 1 tablespoon almonds. Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain, reserving 1 1/2 cups pasta cooking liquid. Place pesto in large bowl. Stir in 1/2 cup pasta cooking liquid. Add pasta and chopped tomatoes; toss to coat, adding more pasta cooking liquid by 1/4 cupfuls as needed to moisten. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle chopped nuts and remaining 1 tablespoon oregano over. Serve, passing cheese alongside.

SUNNY'S WINNING PESTO AND RICOTTA TOAST

Steps:

• For the pesto: Toast the pine nuts in a small skillet over low heat until fragrant and lightly browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• In a food processor add the pine nuts, Parmesan, garlic, a pinch of salt, lemon zest, basil and pepper flakes and pulse. Slowly add olive oil while you pulse until the pesto comes together into a consistency that can be scooped without dripping. Transfer to a bowl or resealable container and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
• For the toast: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place the bread slices on a baking sheet lined with nonstick aluminum foil and brush gently with olive oil on both sides. Bake until the edges are golden and the bread is crisp, about 15 minutes. Let cool to room temperature.
• Spoon some ricotta onto each crostini. Top with the pesto and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil, and a squeeze of lemon and pinch of flaky salt if you like. Serve.

ROASTED-ALMOND RICOTTA PESTO WITH OLIVES

Steps:

• With food processor running, drop in garlic and finely chop. Stop motor and add almonds, basil, lemon juice, parmesan, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, then process until finely chopped. With motor running, add oil, blending until incorporated.
• Transfer to a large bowl. Stir in ricotta and olives and season with salt.
• Toss hot spaghetti with pesto. Thin with some of cooking water.

ROASTED ALMOND & PARMESAN PESTO

Steps:

• Place the almonds, garlic, Parmesan cheese and lemon juice in a food processor and pulse to roughly chop.
• Combine the apple juice and olive oil and, with the motor running, drizzle it in to make a thick, chunky sauce; season with salt and pepper, to taste.

RIGATONI WITH GREEN OLIVE-ALMOND PESTO

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat.
• Drain pasta, reserving 6 tablespoons cooking liquid.
• Place olives, sliced almonds, parsley leaves, black pepper, and garlic in a food processor; pulse 3 times or until coarsely chopped.
• With processor on, add 2 tablespoons water and 1 teaspoon vinegar through the food chute, processing until mixture is finely chopped.
• Combine pasta, 1/4 cup reserved cooking liquid, and olive mixture in a large bowl; toss well.
• Add enough of remaining 2 tablespoons cooking liquid to make pasta mixture moist, tossing well to coat.
• Sprinkle with cheese.
• Serve hot 1 2/3 cup servings.

CHEF JOHN'S ALMOND ARUGULA PESTO

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add arugula and cook until bright green, about 30 seconds. Remove arugula to a bowl full of ice water for several minutes until cold. Drain and wring out arugula.
• Pulse arugula, olive oil, almonds, and garlic together in a blender, scraping down the sides, until mixture just becomes a coarse puree. Pour puree into a bowl and season with salt.