Pesto

[prinnyhep]

Hello everyone.

I LOVE pesto with pasta. But the only topping i can think of to accompany the pesto and pasta is ham! Anyone have any suggestions that would suit?

thanks
x

[Eve]

Depends what kind of pesto you use but you could try

Olives.

Try some different kinds of ham such as pastrami.

Different types of cheese such as parmasan.

Chopped peppers.

Veg such as courgettes and mushrooms.

[BBWCHATT]

Salmon & Pesto with Rice

680 g salmon fillets, cut into 1 inch cubes
75 g pesto
30 g butter
2 shallots, finely chopped
185 g uncooked long-grain white rice
590 ml fish stock
160 ml dry white wine
In a medium bowl, toss salmon fillets in pesto to coat.
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter, and saute shallots until tender. Stir in rice, fish stock, and wine. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer 15 minutes. Without stirring rice, place salmon in the saucepan. Cover, and continue cooking 25 to 30 minutes, until rice is tender and salmon is easily flaked with a fork.

Pesto Hamburgers

680 g ground beef
0.8 g salt
0.3 g pepper
4 slices mozzarella cheese
115 g prepared pesto
70 g roasted sweet red pepper strips
4 hamburger buns, split and toasted
Shape beef into four 3/4-in.-thick patties. Season with salt and pepper. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook patties for 5 minutes on each side or until meat is no longer pink. Top each burger with cheese, 2 tablespoons pesto and pepper strips. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 2 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve on buns.


Chicken Pesto Pizza

115 g pesto basil sauce
1 (12 inch) pre-baked pizza crust
280 g cooked chicken breast strips
168 g artichoke hearts, drained
65 g shredded fontina cheese
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
Spread pesto sauce over the pizza crust. Arrange chicken pieces and artichoke hearts over the sauce, and sprinkle with cheese. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until cheese is melted and lightly browned at the edges.

[miacat]

Bacon Bits, Fired Onions, my kids love meatballs (either lamb, beef or pork) speaking of pork - sausages or little sausagemeat balls are very tasty. Chagrilled or BBQ chicken strips - basically any meats - try putting pasta pesto on the side of something as well as putting toppings on it i.e. lamb chops, steak or chicken breast. Hope that helps.

[helliebobs]

pesto is also lovely in mashed potato and with chicken - make a little pocket in a chicken breast and put some pesto in then wrap in foil and bake in the oven.

[owensinger]

sounds weird but stir in some dark soy sauce, it really enhances the flavour

[BBWCHATT]

Chicken and Angel Hair Pasta

280 g angel hair pasta
220 g boneless chicken breast halves, cooked and chopped
230 g pesto
6 g garlic, minced
30 ml olive oil
30 g toasted almonds
Cook angel hair pasta in boiling water until al dente. Drain. In a large saucepan over medium heat saute minced garlic in olive oil. Add chopped chicken, cooked and drained pasta, pesto sauce, and mix well. Top with toasted almonds. Serve warm or cold.

Greek Pasta Steak & Salad

225 g whole wheat penne pasta
30 ml extra virgin olive oil
15 g butter
1 (1 pound) beef rib eye steak
15 g butter
3 g minced garlic
40 g chopped shallots
15 ml soy sauce
115 g sun-dried tomato pesto
70 g sliced black olives
30 g chopped fresh spinach
0.9 g basil
4 g chopped parsley
75 g crumbled feta cheese
9 g sunflower kernels
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente. When cooked, drain, then toss with olive oil, and keep warm. Meanwhile, melt 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the rib-eye on both sides until rosy-pink in the center, 7 to 10 minutes depending on thickness. Remove steak from skillet and cut into bite-size pieces. Melt the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter in the skillet, and stir in the garlic and shallots. Cook 5 to 10 seconds until fragrant, then return the steak to the pan and cook for another 5 minutes or to desired doneness. Stir in the soy sauce, and cook a few seconds longer, allowing it to evaporate. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the sun-dried tomato pesto, olives, spinach, basil, parsley, feta cheese and sunflower kernels. Toss with the pasta in a large bowl and serve.

[eash]

I have a lovely pizza with green pesto on it. Usually on a stone baked base but any will do, spread the pesto over the base (instead of tomato sauce/puree) then mozzarella then asparagus and cherry tomatos and fresh rosemary. Cook in the oven on a high heat for about 15-20 or until the cheese has melted and enjoy!

[eash]

But if we're talking pasta, how about with chicken, mushrooms and pine nuts and/or roasted peppers?

[BBWCHATT]

Prinny - if it isn't too much trouble - and if you have the time - could you please let us know if we gave you what you needed or if we need to keep looking?

Thanks for your help.
BBWCHATT