Resuscitate your greens and herbs with this pesto recipe (gluten-free, vegan, paleo, Whole 30)
We've all done it. Maybe our eyes were bigger than our stomachs and motivation when we loaded up on fresh food at the farmers market. Perhaps we made the mistake of grocery shopping on an empty stomach and filled our cart with ingredients for every delicious dish our minds could conjure. There's a chance we ordered a Forty Acres produce box that was a smidge too big for our solo household (don't make that mistake again).
In spite of our best intentions, days
alright, alright...weeks later those leafy greens and fresh herbs are sitting in the fridge untouched as the takeout containers mount in the trash bin.
A few weeks ago we had some basil leftover after the Austin Town Hall City Market. And by some, I mean enough to fill a crate.
I took a couple home with dreams of Thai basil chicken dancing in my head. Like many people do, I quickly forgot that dream. When I rediscovered the basil, languishing in the back of the crisper, I feared I missed my window to use it.
Thanks to an email from Sarah, a Forty Acres Fresh Market delivery subscriber since 2021, I gave that basil a new lease on life. Responding to a recent Forty Acres newsletter, she requested that we provide more recipes that include the produce we frequently sell, and she also shared some of her go-to recipe inspirations.
My go-to recipes help me avoid food waste. – Sarah
One source of Sarah's cooking inspiration is The Herbeevore. She shared a pesto recipe for greens, and I remixed it to fit what I had on hand.
Gluten Free, Vegan Pesto
(Adapted from The Herbeevore)
Ingredients
This recipe is super simple and only requires 6 ingredients:
6oz basil
½ cup olive oil
½ cup walnuts
6 cloves garlic
Salt and pepper to taste
Get your ingredients from Forty Acres Fresh Market
Order a $15 Veggie Box or Mix It Up Box and request basil, greens, and garlic in your box.
Check for the latest information on Forty Acres Fresh Market produce stands and popup markets. Our produce stand at the Austin Town Hall City Market is open Thursdays 1PM-6PM.
Directions
In a food processor add the basil, garlic, walnuts, and olive oil. Pulse a few times, then turn the food processor on low and stream in more olive oil if needed.
Stop, check the consistency, and add salt and pepper. Turn food processor on low for up to 30 seconds to blend in seasoning.
Toss with fresh pasta, use pesto as a sauce on homemade pizza, or enjoy pesto as a dip for vegetables or bread.
Before you give up on your wilted greens and herbs give this recipe a go. Leave a comment on how your version turned out or share your favorite ways to use up your produce that has seen better days.