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Fresh Garlic Scape Pesto Recipe Easy Homemade Pine Nuts Parmesan Sauce

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A fresh and vibrant pesto made from garlic scapes, toasted pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and lemon juice. Perfect for spring and early summer, this pesto is quick, easy, and versatile.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup chopped fresh garlic scapes (about 100g)
  • 1/3 cup pine nuts (45g), lightly toasted
  • 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese (50g)
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil (120ml), plus extra if needed
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, a few grinds

Instructions

  1. Toast the pine nuts: Heat a dry skillet over medium heat. Add 1/3 cup pine nuts and toast, stirring frequently, for 3-5 minutes until golden and fragrant. Remove from heat and let cool.
  2. Prepare the garlic scapes: Trim off the tough ends of about 1 cup fresh garlic scapes. Chop into 1-inch pieces.
  3. Combine ingredients: In a food processor, add chopped garlic scapes, cooled pine nuts, grated Parmesan, and lemon juice.
  4. Pulse several times to break down the ingredients. Scrape down the sides with a spatula.
  5. With the processor running on low, slowly pour in 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil. Continue processing until smooth but slightly textured. Add more olive oil by tablespoon if too thick.
  6. Season with salt and black pepper, then pulse a few more times to mix.
  7. Taste and adjust seasoning. Add more lemon juice, salt, or pepper if needed. If too intense, stir in a small spoonful of water or more olive oil to mellow.
  8. Use immediately or transfer to a clean jar. Cover with a thin layer of olive oil to preserve color and freshness if storing. Refrigerate up to 4 days or freeze for longer storage.

Notes

Toast pine nuts gently to avoid bitterness. Use firm, bright green garlic scapes for best flavor. Avoid over-processing to keep some texture. Cover pesto with olive oil when storing to preserve color. Can substitute walnuts for pine nuts or omit Parmesan for dairy-free version.

Nutrition

Keywords: garlic scape pesto, pine nuts, Parmesan, homemade pesto, spring recipe, easy pesto, fresh pesto, garlic scapes

Find it online: https://emmastirs.com/fresh-garlic-scape-pesto-recipe-easy-homemade-pine-nuts-parmesan-sauce/