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Katie Smith

Rustic Pecan, Basil & Garlic Pesto

Rustic Pecan, Basil & Garlic Pesto is a nutrient‑dense, flavor‑forward staple where a spoonful can turn simple meals into farmhouse nourishment. This pesto isn’t just delicious; it’s culinary medicine crafted from the soil that sustains our community. Here are just a few examples of what it pairs well with that our family use it on: Pasta (as seen pictured), Steaks, Grilled chicken, Avocado toast, Eggs, Cold or hot pasta, Sandwiches, Salad dressing (thinned with more olive oil) and more!
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Assembling Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 2 cups
Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 handful Fresh Basil Leaves
  • 3 cloves Early Italian Purple Garlic
  • 1/4 cup Pecans or Walnuts
  • 1 tsp Sea Salt
  • 1 Lemon (zest + juice of half)
  • 1/2 cup Extra‑Virgin Olive Oil
  • Freshly Grated Raw Parmesan
  • 1 pinch Red Pepper flakes

Equipment

  • 1 Mortar & Pestle optional
  • 1 Microplane optional

Method
 

  1. Clean basil and peel the young garlic cloves.
  2. Add garlic and salt to a mortar and pestle; pound until a smooth paste forms.
    3. Pro-Tip: Why Mortar & Pestle Makes the Best Pesto: Using a mortar & pestle releases more flavor and more nutrients from garlic than chopping or blending. Crushing by hand ruptures the garlic’s cell walls more completely, creating higher levels of allicin — the compound responsible for garlic’s immune‑supportive, heart‑healthy benefits and its deep aroma. It also prevents heat & metal contact (which can dull flavor), keeps basil from bruising, & preserves the natural oils in nuts. The result is a pesto that’s brighter, creamier, & more nutrient‑dense.
  3. Add pecans or walnuts and continue pounding until fully integrated.
    4. Tip: Pound the nuts instead of blending them, preserving their oils and preventing heat damage that can reduce nutrient density.
  4. Add roughly chopped basil and work into a cohesive paste, keeping the leaves bright and un‑bruised.
    5. Tip: Add basil last and pound gently. This prevents bruising, oxidation, and nutrient loss — keeping the pesto bright, green, and aromatic.
  5. Zest one lemon using a microplane, then squeeze in half the lemon’s juice.
  6. Stir in olive oil slowly until the pesto loosens and emulsifies.
    7. Tip: Stir the oil in slowly, which emulsifies the pesto without overheating it — protecting those delicate polyphenols.
  7. Taste and adjust with salt, lemon, or oil. Add grated raw Parmesan and red pepper flakes if desired.
    8. Tip: Grate fresh, raw Parmesan directly over the finished pesto or over the dish, preserving its raw enzymes.