Special Diet Information

Coumadin® (Warfarin)
This recipe is NOT safe for Coumadin (warfarin) users.

Lactose
This recipe contains cheese and some of those who are lactose intolerant may be able to tolerate it.

Sodium
This is a low sodium recipe.

GERD / Acid Reflux
This recipe contains GERD triggers and those with GERD may wish to avoid it.

Gluten Sensitivity
This recipe is safe for those who are sensitive to gluten.

"The pesto and angel hair are warm in the bowl on my lap, the fragrances of olive oil and basil blending the exotic and familiar, equal parts sunny Tuscan hillside and hometown dirt. A meal like this makes you want to live forever, if only for the scent of warm pesto in January." -Michael Perry, Author

The refrigerator light goes on...

This recipe was inspired by a restaurant pesto. It was served with roasted veggies and a few other dipping sauces and spreads but the pesto really stood out because the spinach made it sweeter and some of the pistachios were crushed giving the pesto a lot of texture.

The flaw, as usual, was that there was too, too much olive oil and the pesto was greasy. That's simple to correct and this version turns out fantastic with the richness of ground pistachios and olive oil, tang of basil and vinegar, umami of the parmesan and sweetness of the spinach.

For this recipe (and all of your pesto recipes) you do want to use your best quality extra virgin olive oil and best quality parmesan. It is worth the extra money, if for no other reason in that you can use far less of both to get a lot more flavor (probably about the same amount of investment this way).

This is great served with roasted veggies for your next party or fantastic on pasta (about 3 tablespoons per 2 ounce serving of pasta is just right).