Raw Pesto Recipe

Use this as a dressing for some lovely fresh vegetables from the garden. It is a guaranteed way to add some seasonal herby freshness all year round.

Ingredients

1 garlic clove
20g raw nuts
10g (2tsp) raw cider vinegar or lemon juice
125g herb leaves
10-20g hardy herb leaves
125g cold pressed oil
1g salt

Method

1. Peel and chop the garlic. If making in a large pestle and mortar then add the garlic and salt and pound to a paste. If making in a food processor then add the garlic, salt and nuts and process to a coarse lumpy crumb.

2. If using a pestle and mortar then add the pine nuts next and smash them to a coarse crumb.

3. Cut the herbs roughly, using a large knife and add all together to the food processor with the oil and lemon and then process to a coarse puree. Taste for vinegar/lemon and salt and adjust as necessary.

4. If using the pestle and mortar, cut the herbs roughly and add them, a little at a time, to the mortar, grinding it to a paste before adding the next leaves. If it starts to get to thick, add a little oil to loosen the process. Once they are all incorporated, add any remaining oil and the vinegar/lemon and taste for seasoning. Put into a small container or jar and store in the fridge for months if needed.

Richard Buckley is chef proprietor of the award-winning Acorn Vegetarian Kitchen in Bath. To find out more, visit www.acornrestaurant.co.uk

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