Best 6 Winter Pesto Recipes

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As the winter season arrives, many find themselves craving comforting and flavorful dishes that warm the soul. Winter pesto offers a unique and delectable culinary experience, capturing the essence of the season's freshest ingredients. This vibrant and versatile sauce has gained popularity in recent years, as it brings a burst of color and taste to various culinary creations. Join us as we embark on a journey to discover the best recipe for winter pesto and explore its many culinary possibilities.

Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!

WINTER VEGETABLE AND BEAN SOUP WITH PESTO



Winter Vegetable and Bean Soup with Pesto image

Categories     Soup/Stew     Bean     Garlic     Vegetable     Low Fat     Vegetarian     Parmesan     Basil     Winter     Healthy     Bon Appétit

Yield Makes 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 17

Pesto:
2 cups (packed) fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup drained canned diced tomatoes
3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 garlic cloves, peeled
Soup:
2 large leeks (white and pale green parts only), chopped
2 medium carrots, peeled, diced
1 6-ounce white-skinned potato, peeled, diced
3 tablespoons water
8 cups canned vegetable broth
1/2 cup orzo (rice-shaped pasta)
6 ounces green beans, trimmed, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 15-ounce can cannellini (white kidney beans), rinsed, drained
1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • For pesto:
  • Puree all ingredients in processor. Season with salt and pepper. (Pesto can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
  • For soup:
  • Combine first 4 ingredients in heavy large pot. Cover and cook over medium-low heat until vegetables are almost tender, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Add broth; bring to boil. Stir in orzo; boil uncovered until orzo is almost tender, stirring often, about 12 minutes. Add green beans; reduce heat and simmer until beans are tender, about 6 minutes. Stir in cannellini and crushed pepper; simmer until heated through, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Divide pesto among 4 bowls. Ladle soup over pesto; swirl to blend. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons cheese.

RED WINTER MINESTRONE WITH WINTER GREENS PESTO



Red Winter Minestrone with Winter Greens Pesto image

The thing I like most about this soup is the pesto made from the greens of the beets and turnips, along with the kale. Yep, I'm going tip-to-tail. The soup itself gets its lovely red color from beets. You'll have more pesto than you need for the soup, so serve the leftovers over pasta or freeze for future soups. Serve the minestrone with crusty bread and a salad.

Provided by Oxbow Farm

Categories     Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes     Soup Recipes     Vegetable Soup Recipes     Minestrone

Time 1h5m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 25

1 bunch beet greens
1 bunch turnip greens
1 bunch kale
⅔ cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic
1 ounce Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, grated
½ teaspoon kosher salt
6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 white onion, finely chopped
2 Roma (plum) tomatoes, peeled and grated
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1 bay leaf
1 pinch dried chili flakes
1 leek, white and light green parts only, halved lengthwise, cleaned, and cut into 1/2-inch slices
1 carrot, peeled and sliced
½ pound turnips, peeled and cubed
½ pound beets, peeled and cubed
1 cup dry white wine
2 cups cooked cannellini beans
½ cup green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces
5 cups water
¼ cup chopped flat-leaf (Italian) parsley
½ tablespoon fresh lemon juice, or to taste

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Prepare a bowl of ice water. Strip beet greens, turnip greens, and kale from their coarse stems and wash leaves well. Working in batches, cook each bunch in boiling water until bright green and slightly limp, about 1 minute. Transfer immediately to ice water and repeat with remaining greens. Discard cooking water.
  • Remove greens from ice water and squeeze out as much water as possible.
  • Combine greens, 2/3 cup olive oil, 2 cloves garlic, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt in blender or food processor; blend until smooth. Transfer pesto to a bowl and cover surface with plastic wrap.
  • Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in large pot over medium-high heat. Stir in onion, grated tomato, 4 cloves minced garlic, rosemary, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, bay leaf, and chili flakes. Cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes; reduce heat to low. Continue cooking and stirring until vegetables are a deep golden brown, 20 to 30 minutes.
  • Pour remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil over onion mixture. Stir in leek, carrot, turnips, and beets. Increase heat to medium-high and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.
  • Pour white wine over vegetable mixture and scrape browned bits off the bottom of the pot. Mix cannellini beans and green beans into vegetable mixture; pour in 5 cups water. Bring liquid to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until green beans are tender, about 5 minutes more. Stir in parsley and lemon juice.
  • Divide soup among heated bowls and serve with a generous dollop of the winter greens pesto.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 916.1 calories, Carbohydrate 65.7 g, Cholesterol 6.2 mg, Fat 61.4 g, Fiber 16.1 g, Protein 20.4 g, SaturatedFat 9.6 g, Sodium 808.1 mg, Sugar 11 g

DR. WEIL’S ROASTED WINTER SQUASH AND APPLE SOUP WITH WALNUT CILANTRO PESTO



DR. WEIL’S ROASTED WINTER SQUASH AND APPLE SOUP WITH WALNUT CILANTRO PESTO image

Categories     Soup/Stew     Vegetable     Side

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 large winter squash (about 2 1/2 pounds), such as butternut,
buttercup or kabocha; peeled, seeded and cut into 2-inch pieces
2 medium onions, peeled and quartered
3 garlic cloves, peeled
2 tart, firm apples, peeled, cored and quartered
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and red chile powder to taste
4 to 5 cups vegetable broth
Cilantro-Walnut Pesto
1 cup walnut pieces
2 cups cilantro leaves, washed, drained and stemmed
1 green jalapeño pepper, seeded and chopped
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
2 tablespoons cider vinegar

Steps:

  • 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large roasting pan, toss the squash, onions, garlic and apples with the oil to coat. Season well with the salt and chile. Roast, stirring every 10 minutes, until the vegetables are fork tender and lightly browned, about 40 minutes. 2. Put half of the vegetables and 2 cups of the broth in a food processor and purée until smooth. Repeat with the remaining vegetables and broth. Return puréed mixture to the pot. If the soup is too thick, add more broth. Correct the seasoning and heat to a simmer. 3. Serve in warm bowls with dollops of cilantro-walnut pesto. PESTO 1. Put the walnuts in a food processor and grind them fine. 2. Add the cilantro, jalapeño pepper, salt, vinegar and 2 to 3 tablespoons of water and blend. Blend in a little more water if necessary to make a thick sauce. Taste and correct the seasoning, adding more salt if necessary.

WINTER PESTO



Winter Pesto image

This has a very different taste to a basil pesto, but I think it is delicious. Plus, it's a great way to eat your spinach! This quantity is enough for 2 1/2 lbs of pasta.

Provided by evelynathens

Categories     Spinach

Time 5m

Yield 2 1/2 pounds of pasta

Number Of Ingredients 8

5 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups firmly packed spinach leaves, stems discarded,washed well and spun dry
2 cups firmly packed fresh parsley leaves
1 cup olive oil
1 cup walnuts, toasted lightly and cooled
1 cup parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon crushed fennel seed

Steps:

  • Mince and mash the garlic to a paste with salt.
  • In a processor or blender, puree spinach with parsley, oil, walnuts, Parmesan, fennel and garlic paste.
  • The pesto keeps, covered with a thin film of olive oil and chilled, up to 2 weeks.
  • This makes enough to use with up to 2 ½ lbs of pasta.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1276.8, Fat 129, SaturatedFat 21.8, Cholesterol 35.2, Sodium 1592, Carbohydrate 14.3, Fiber 5.7, Sugar 2.1, Protein 25.1

FARFALLE PASTA WITH WINTER PESTO



FARFALLE PASTA WITH WINTER PESTO image

Categories     Pasta     Quick & Easy

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 lb farfalle pasta
1/2 lb fresh spinach or kale greens
2 cloves garlic
2/3 cup toasted walnuts (or pine nuts)
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 lb ricotta salata cheese, grated

Steps:

  • Prepare pasta according to package instructions, reserving 1/4 cup liquid. Rinse and dry the greens well. Remove any thick stems and coarsely chop. Pulse garlic in food processor until chopped. Add nuts, salt, pepper, and one-third of greens. Pulse, adding remaining greens in batches until finely chopped. With motor running, slowly add oil. Toss pasta with cheese and pesto, thinning with reserved liquid as needed.

WINTER VEGETABLE AND BEAN SOUP WITH PESTO



Winter Vegetable and Bean Soup With Pesto image

Found this in December 2001 Bon Appetit when I was looking to duplicate Paneras Vegetable Soup with Pesto.

Provided by Cook4_6

Categories     Beans

Time 1h

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 15

2 cups basil leaves (packed)
1/2 cup diced tomato, drained canned
3 tablespoons parmesan cheese, freshly grated
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 garlic cloves, peeled
2 large leeks, chopped (white and pale green parts only)
2 medium carrots, peeled, diced
6 ounces white-skinned potatoes, peeled, diced
3 tablespoons water
8 cups vegetable broth
1/2 cup orzo pasta (rice-shaped pasta)
6 ounces green beans, trimmed, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 (15 ounce) can cannellini, rinsed, drained (white kidney beans)
1/4 teaspoon dry crushed red pepper
2 tablespoons parmesan cheese, freshly grated

Steps:

  • For pesto:.
  • Puree all ingredients in processor. Season with salt and pepper. (Pesto can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
  • For soup:.
  • Combine first 4 ingredients in heavy large pot. Cover and cook over medium-low heat until vegetables are almost tender, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Add broth; bring to boil. Stir in orzo; boil uncovered until orzo is almost tender, stirring often, about 12 minutes. Add green beans; reduce heat and simmer until beans are tender, about 6 minutes. Stir in cannellini and crushed pepper; simmer until heated through, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Divide pesto among 4 bowls. Ladle soup over pesto; swirl to blend. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons cheese.

Tips:

  • Use fresh, seasonal ingredients. This will give your pesto the best flavor and aroma.
  • Don't be afraid to experiment with different herbs and nuts. There are many different types of pesto that you can make, so feel free to experiment with different ingredients until you find one that you love.
  • Use a food processor or blender to make your pesto. This will help you to get a smooth and consistent texture.
  • Store your pesto in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months.
  • Use pesto as a sauce for pasta, pizza, or grilled vegetables. You can also use it as a spread for sandwiches or wraps.

Conclusion:

Winter pesto is a delicious and versatile sauce that can be used in a variety of dishes. It's a great way to use up fresh, seasonal ingredients and add some extra flavor to your meals. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy way to add some flavor to your food, try making a batch of winter pesto. You won't be disappointed!

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