Chive & Lemon Pesto

Gifts From The Garden

https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/chive-lemon-pesto • Posted by Kyle Books

This is a sprightly, easy pesto to make when you’re cutting back the first flush of growth from your chives before they flower. It’s delicious on pasta or gnocchi, of course, but it’s also very good as a dressing for just-boiled new potatoes. Makes approx. 1 x 190g jar.

You will need

4 tbsp –6 tablespoons Olive Oil , plus a little more for bottling 1 small Garlic clove, minced Grated zest of 1 small Lemon 60 g Parmesan cheese, finely grated A generous bunch of Chives , about 50g, finely chopped 40 g Pine Nuts Salt and pepper

Project Budget

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Difficulty

Description

This is a sprightly, easy pesto to make when you’re cutting back the first flush of growth from your chives before they flower. It’s delicious on pasta or gnocchi, of course, but it’s also very good as a dressing for just-boiled new potatoes. Makes approx. 1 x 190g jar.

Gifts from the Garden by Debora Robertson (Kyle Books, £16.99) Photography: Yuki Sugiura

Instructions

1. 

   Warm a dry frying pan over a medium heat and gently toast the pine nuts until just golden and fragrant, rattling the pan frequently to ensure they do not burn. Cool and bash roughly in a pestle and mortar, or pulse a couple of times in a food processor. Combine with the chives, cheese, lemon zest, garlic and just enough oil to get the texture you like. Taste and season if necessary with salt and pepper.

2. Spoon the pesto into the cold, sterilised jar, pressing down with the back of a spoon to get rid of any air pockets. Ensure that the pesto is completely covered by a thin layer of oil before sealing.

3. Refrigerated, the pesto will keep for 2–3 days. packaging idea To make a more substantial gift, combine this tangy pesto with a bag or two of beautiful fresh pasta and/or a pestle and mortar.