For the perfect Wild Garlic Pesto, all you need are a few fresh ingredients to create a vibrant, flavorful sauce. This versatile pesto is excellent as an accompaniment to pasta, a spread for sandwiches, a zesty salad dressing, or a seasoning component in various dishes. Packed with the fresh, garlicky flavor of wild garlic, this simple recipe is a must-try during the spring season when wild garlic is at its peak. Enjoy this pesto’s bright, herbaceous taste in countless ways!
Ingredients
- 100 g fresh wild garlic
- 50 g Parmesan (or Pecorino, depending on taste), freshly grated
- 50 g pine nuts (alternatively, walnuts can be used for a nuttier note)
- 100 ml olive oil (Extra Virgin)
- 1 clove garlic (optional, depending on preference for additional sharpness)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- A dash of lemon juice (optional, brightens the flavor)
Instructions
- Prepare the Wild Garlic: Wash the wild garlic thoroughly and then dry it carefully to remove excess water. Remove coarse stems, as they can make the pesto bitter.
- Roast Pine Nuts: Lightly toast the pine nuts in a dry pan until they are golden brown. This enhances their aroma. Let them cool down afterward.Grate
- Parmesan: Grate the Parmesan or Pecorino finely. Freshly grated cheese ensures the best flavor.
- Puree: Put the wild garlic, the cooled pine nuts, the grated cheese, and the garlic clove (if used) into a blender or food processor. Coarsely puree the ingredients. While pureeing, slowly add the olive oil until the desired consistency is reached. For a finer pesto, mix longer; for a chunkier pesto, mix shorter.
- Season: Taste the pesto with salt, pepper, and a dash of lemon juice (if used). The lemon juice not only helps with the taste but also preserves the green color.
- Adjust: Depending on the desired consistency, you can add more olive oil. If the pesto has become too liquid, adding some more grated cheese or pine nuts can help.
- Store: Wild garlic pesto can be stored in a clean, airtight jar in the refrigerator for a few days. Cover the surface with a thin layer of olive oil to keep it fresh. You can also freeze the pesto in ice cube trays for future use.
Notes
• Lemon Zest: A bit of grated lemon zest gives the pesto a fresh, citrusy note that fits particularly well with spring dishes.
• Personal Touch: Experiment with different nuts such as walnuts, hazelnuts, or almonds to discover various flavor directions. Each type of nut brings a unique aroma to the pesto.
Enjoy your wild garlic pesto with fresh pasta, as an aromatic base for pizzas, in sandwiches, as a dip, or as a delicious addition to grilled vegetables and meat. The combination of spicy wild garlic, rich cheese, and nutty pine nuts makes this pesto a true highlight of spring.
Vegan Variant: Replace the Parmesan with nutritional yeast flakes, they offer a similarly spicy, cheese-like flavor
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