'Pesto' made from seasonal veg not herbs?

Robothell

Gingham_Ribbon wrote: »

Robothell, you get vegetarian substitutes for parmesan. And, though I could be wrong here, I believe that parmesan is the expensive stuff and the other hard cheeses are not allowed to call themselves parmesan though they are similar. (Just like the term champagne can't be universally used.)

I admit to being a terrible vegetarian and buying parmesan if I can't get the veggie stuff though.

Ahhh........that makes sense!:D

Didn't realise the champagne/cava thingy also applied to parmesan and all the other hard cheeses. Guess I've been using 'parmesan' for years without realising!!!!

Normally bring a load of the real stuff back cheaply though if I'm over in Europe and freeze it.

ti1980

Hey GR. I've never made any of them. I've never made pesto before. I still haven't got round to buying a hand blender. I keep thinking I wouldn't use it much anyway.

I've had spinach pesto and aubergine pesto from M&S (one of the perils of working there is I just HAVE to try everything!) which were both delicious. One of the last pasta sauces I bought from M&S (it was reduced) was a roasted red and yellow pepper sauce which was lovely so I just thought the peppers could be used as pesto. I absolutely love peppers.

As far as I can recall there wasn't anything different in them apart from the usual, ie. garlic, pine nuts but I will have a look for you. I like reading food labels.:o

catznine

Would chard work? I have been getting quite a bit of that in my veg box recently! Thanks for the recipe!

Gingham_Ribbon

Yes, it says at the bottom of the link that swiss chard would work. I don't know what it is though!:o

Gingham_Ribbon

Big thumbs up for purple sprouting broccoli. DH made it. This is what he said he used:

Bunch of PSB, steamed until tender.
Handful of pine nuts, blitzed.
Handful of green olives
Olive oil
Parmesan
Salt and pepper

Just all blitzed. I thought there was cream in it - it tasted very sweet and creamy but he said he didn't put any in it. Gorgeous!

DonnaP

Yes, it says at the bottom of the link that swiss chard would work. I don't know what it is though

I love swiss chard - my Dad grows it on his allotment. It is like a spinach leaf, but bigger and tougher. I chop it like cabbage and steam.mmmmmmmmmm

Donna

ti1980

Hey GR, I have two more for you. They are not my idea, I saw them in Aldi today.
What about parsley and ginger or pistachio and fennel?

Gingham_Ribbon

I am definitely going to try the fennel one. It sounds delish! Thanks for checking on them!

ti1980

Not a problem GR. I love pesto so it was good research! I've never tried fennel, is it similar to any more 'usual' veg?
I'm not a ginger fan personally so I won't be buying that one! Thought it might be useful for someone who is though.
I think there are a lot of secret pesto fans on this board!

Gingham_Ribbon

Fennel is an odd one. It's a little like fat, round celery but much more flavoursome. A bit aniseedy. I don't like aniseed but I love fennel. Delia has a great stuffed red pepper dish with fennel and that is wonderful but I love the idea of having it with pistachio.