Don't Step on My Walnut Pesto

Don't Step on My Walnut Pesto (with Shrimp on the Side)

The Tease

Originating from Northern Italy, "pesto" simply means crushed herbs. Basil, Italian parsley, Parmesan cheese, garlic and olive oil.

Time To Cook:

• Novice Cook 25 Minutes
• Experienced Cook 15 Minutes

Factoid

Basil in Greek means "king." The ancient Greeks called basil "the herb of kings" and many cooks now call this the "king of herbs." This awesome herb belongs to the mint family. There are about 10 kinds of basil from Genova, the sweet Italian kind to Lemon basil used in Indonesian food and Dark Opal basil which is a redish-purple color. A very sexy thing about basil are its health benefits. Did you know that adding fresh basil to uncooked foods such as salad kills potential harmful bacteria (even if it is infused with vinegar.) Basil is also a good source of magnesium, which promotes cardiovascular health by prompting muscles and blood vessels to relax, thus improving blood flow and lessening the risk of irregular heart rhythms or a spasming of the heart muscle or a blood vessel. Also basil is a very good source of iron, calcium, potassium and vitamin C.

Walnuts are a super-sexy, powerful food that are very good for your system. They are high in omega 3 fats and they are a decent source of providing antioxidants. Walnuts also protect healthy cells, detoxify potential harmful cells that cause cancer and stop cancer cells from duplicating.

There are twenty-one species of walnuts and several hybrids exist. That's a lot of nuts. The black walnut prevails throughout North America.


Ingredients

• 3/4 cup of walnuts

• 1 bunch of basil

• Bunch of Italian parsley

• 3-5 teeth of cleaned fresh garlic

• 1 cup of extra-virgin olive oil

• 1 cup (you may need less) of freshly grated Parmesan cheese

• 1 tablespoon of fresh, cracked pepper

• Salt to taste

• Pre-cooked cocktail shrimp

Equipment

• Hand blender, food processor or blender

Preparation (Do it!)

1) Roasting the walnuts is optional, but adds a great nutty flavor. To roast walnuts, place them in a pre-heated 350 degree on a cookie sheet for 7-12 minutes. Check on them to make sure they don't burn. If they do, you must start over.

2) Take the stems off the basil and Italian parsley and add them to a blender.

3) Add garlic, nuts, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, pepper and a pinch of salt to the blender.

4) Add the extra virgin olive oil.

5) Blend all of the ingredients together until a thick paste is created.

6) Season to taste with left-over Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper.

Source: http://www.culinaryseductions.com/