PESTO MANIFESTO
A few weeks back, I decided to work on a pesto recipe that would have broad Spin It options for various different herbs, nuts, and greens, as you wish.
I did not expect to land on a recipe that would give you, my dear humans, the ability to create pestos using any mix of nuts, cheese, herbs, and oil that your hearts desire. Yes: ANY. This is body autonomy for the mortar and pestle set.
Remember: “pesto” is more than the Italian sauce with basil, pine nuts, and olive oil. That Genovese staple is specific; pesto simply means “pounded.” Pulverized, chopped, blended: a category of sauces that contains multitudes.
What I’m giving you this week is a Pesto Ratio. That means I’ve landed on a harmonious proportion of nuts, cheese, herbs, and oil that stays constant, but you have ultimate creative license to experiment within each category. The ratio is flexible. It’s scalable. And it has so far worked with every combination of cheeses, herbs, and nuts I’ve tried.
I’ve opened up the herb category to capture greens such as collards, kale, spinach, and pea shoots. They’re good either raw or cooked. You can combine them with herbs, or not. They can include things like scallion greens, radish tops, and fennel fronds.
I did not forget about my nut-averse and dairy-free friends. WE GOT YOU. Seeds can replace nuts—as can coconut flakes. Miso instead of cheese? Heck yes, and that’s just the beginning.
Pesto has many applications besides pasta. It can become a dip, a compound butter, a sandwich schmear, a focaccia topping, a vinaigrette, a marinade, a soup finisher, a drizzle, a rice mix-in, and the flavoring for an aioli.
Below you’ll find an 11-page booklet that will explain exactly how this all works. There are multiple lists detailing all the nuts, all the cheeses, the herbs, greens, and yes—even the oils—that you can choose from. While I’m partial to olive oil since it’s coursing through my veins, even I can admit that it’s not the only option. There’s guidance for anyone trepidatious about going off-script with all the Spin Its and subs that are offered. There are mnemonic devices for easy memorizing. There’s a pesto PIN. There’s even a really bad song that I made up all by myself.
Okay fine, it’s a pesto ‘zine. I hope it’s the first and last one you’ll ever need.