Perfect Pesto

‘Procuitto and Pesto Stuffed Chicken Breasts’

Pesto is a robust, dark green sauce, usually a blend of basil, Parmesan cheese, garlic and pine nuts. Pesto is naturally gluten free and very simple to make at home. Pesto can be used to wake up the flavor of many recipes, such as gf pizza, gf pasta, omelets, gf bruschetta, wrapped in chicken, broiled on fish, stuffed in pork loin, baked on potatoes….and the list goes on.

To make Basic Pesto:

• 2 cups fresh basil leaves
• 1/2 cup pine nuts
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Place basil, pine nuts, garlic and Parmesan cheese into a food processor and process into a paste. With the processor still running, add the oil through the feeding tube until all is combined. Season with salt and pepper.

In our January issue we’ve included a few recipes that feature pesto as a main ingredient, ‘Pesto Stuffed Pork Loin with Orzo’ ; an elegant entrée that is very easy to make and very impressive to serve. We used Papadini’s gluten free orzo with wonderful results! For a delicious and slightly different pesto flavor try ‘Procuitto and Pesto Stuffed Chicken Breasts’. The pesto in this recipe is made with rosemary instead of the traditional basil. And wake up zucchini with ‘Zucchini with Pesto’, a zesty side dish you’re sure to love!

– Glutenfreeda