Spinach Pesto
One of the biggest culinary hits that I’ve made for Kenya so far is pesto.
I’m not only talking about the traditional pesto made with basil,
though. I’m talking about all different kinds like cilantro, parsley and now my new favorite,
spinach. This recipe is bright green in color and since I added tofu,
it has an even creamier texture then the traditional variety.
Spinach is rich in the antioxidants vitamin C, iron and beta-carotene.
Since it can have a strong taste when cooked, this raw, pureed version
takes on a delicate almost sweet flavor.
I mixed most of it into pasta and then with the remainder, I covered 2
salmon fillets and baked them, one for me and one for Kenya, so
everyone was happy.
Spinach Pesto (Makes 3/4 Cup Pesto)
1 Cup Spinach, packed
1/4 Cup Walnuts
1/4 Cup Parmesan Cheese
1 Tbsp Tofu, silken
1 Small Garlic Clove
1/3 Cup Olive Oil
2 Cups Pasta, cooked
1. Place all the ingredients, except for the pasta, in a food processor and puree until smooth.
2. Mix with pasta and serve.
*Place in ice cubes and freeze, transfer to a ziploc bag, label and freeze. When ready, toss in hot pasta to defrost or defrost in fridge for 24 hours.
We used these to make this recipe:
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Are the walnuts necessary? Any idea for a substitution? I have not given my little one any tree nuts yet due to some family allergies, but I love the idea of spinach making pesto! Thanks!
You can try it with pumpkin seeds and see how it is. I haven’t tested it so if you do let me know how they turn out!
I’m looking for a pesto recipe without cheese (my 19 month old is allergic to dairy). Would this work without the parmesan? Is there something else I could add to increase the flavor? Thanks and we love your recipes!
this is yummy. my 2 y.o. still turns her nose up at pasta with pesto but she LOVES this mixed with her fried eggs in the morning. the oil in the pesto makes it perfect for frying and it gives the eggs a yummy cheesy flavor. so glad i could still put it to use. i’ve tried many other versions of spinach eggs that she’s refused to eat. finally, we have a winner!!
I just made this for lunch for my 2 yr old and myself. She actually ate a couple bites before giving up. She doesnt want to eat anything this week! It was still pretty good and I subbed cottage cheese for the tofu. It was really thick though and I had to add more oil to be able to mix it with the pasta.
Hello, please can you give me a bit more information about the ingredients prior to processing?
- is the spinach fresh or frozen (takes up very different volume)
- are the walnuts chopped?
- is the parmesan shredded?
thank you