Pesto, made of fragrant basil, toasted pine nuts and hint of garlic is a versatile dressing and marinade that is simple to make. Simply toss into a food processor and presto! I mean pesto! Usually made with Parmesan or Romano cheese, I leave it out for this non-dairy version. I like pesto and chicken, either as a marinade and sauce or as a pasta side dish. Hence, no cheese but a little salt to taste. If you are doing a dairy meal, definitely add the cheese.

I can buy ginormous bags of fresh basil fairly reasonable all year around. But, pesto screams warm weather to me and I usually reserve it for the months designated as summer. In the Northwest, summer doesn't necessarily mean sunshine. It just means we long for sunshine and if it comes on the end of a fork, so be it. I'm still wearing a down coat; why worry?

I love going to Pacific Food Importers and staring at the pasta shapes. Silently, I practice my entire Italian vocabulary reading the names associated with the sizes and shapes. Nothing is more fun than "campanelle" with its delicate ruffled funnel shape. Okay, maybe "gemelli" with its twisted lean lines intrigues me. But, with pesto, it's definitely campanelle. Why? Because for the same price, or pennies more than elbows or penne, I can elevate life to "marvelous" in the true sense of the word (as opposed to an adjective describing a fiscal budget!)

I also use heirloom cherry tomatoes for their diverse colors and rich striations. Rich colors, complex flavors, ruffles and a whiff of summer ~ that's a pasta salad.

Ingredients:

1 pound campanelle pasta or other medium sized shape

Pesto:

• 2 cups packed basil leaves, washed
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/3 cup toasted pine nuts or chopped walnuts
• 2 - 3 teaspoons minced garlic
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese

Steps:

Rate this Recipe:

Comments:

Dana: Hi Leah! Just a quick idea on a par eve sub for the cheese in your pesto. I love that salty, nutty bite you get from parmesan, and I found that ground salted, roasted cashews give a very similar taste. I have been cooking dairy-free for many years and have been testing natural substitutes. This one rocks! As far a portions, I would use the same amount of nuts as you would use for the cheese.

Report abuse

Leah: Hey Dana, Thanks for sharing ~ good to know and I look forward to hearing more of your dairy-free discoveries. I'd also love to hear about nut-free ideas. Keep those comments coming!

Report abuse

Add a comment:


Please login to comment. Not a member? Click here...

Recently viewed recipes:

Pesto with Campanelle and Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes