THE SWAMP MILKWEED KITCHEN

2. ARUGULA PESTO

Carol Ann and I love pesto – it’s a kitchen staple and seldom do we run out.  I switched to arugula from basil a few years ago.  We prefer its more peppery flavor.

• Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino Romano

• Pine nuts

• Garlic

• EVO

• Arugula

I never use the same proportions twice – just grab and add. It’s always better to “feel” your way through the kitchen and not worry about it. 

If something is off, make a correction or make a mental note.  Just don’t fret about it. 

Pecorino Romano, Pine Nuts and EVO are Kirkland.  Love them. Great quality & great price.

This is a generous handful of Pecorino Romano and a modest palm full of pine nuts.  If you blend it with the wand, shove the arugula into the jar and bust it up some before adding anything else. Drink your wine to avoid mistakes.

This Williams-Sonoma immersion blender is another tool I use continually.  It too is an antique by now – great machine.  Never fails.

I busted up some of the arugula and now I’ll begin adding a little EVO. Hit it with the wand again and add some more arugula and a little more oil.

In with the garlic.

Now the pine nuts.

Next goes the Pecorino Romano (or Parmigiano-Reggiano). These two glorious cheeses come from Italy. Not from Wisconsin. Use no substitutes. 

EVO.

Whack it up.

Add all that remains.

Fine tune with EVO.

Salt and pepper.

Looks perfect. You won’t know unless you slurp a big spoon full.

A beautiful and exquisitely delicious quart of pesto to enhance just about anything.

By the way, these La Panzanella’s are fabulous crackers. If you can’t find them, I encourage you to order them. They come in various sizes.

If you really want to dial it up, finish the job properly before serving. Here’s the secret to serving (adult) crackers. Drizzled with EVO and finished with freshly ground Tellicherry pepper and Maldon’s sea salt flakes. Bring on the wine, pesto, cheese or whatever.

Dinner is served. It just does not get any easier or tastier or more satisfying than this

AND YOU WON’T GET FAT.

MORE SWAMP MILKWEED SESSIONS

1. easy garlic

2. arugula pesto

3. an irregular egg sandwich

4. a fine spinach omelette

5. a speedy salmon salad

Thanks for visiting with me.

Paul V’Soske

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