x
Breaking News
More () »

Recipe of the Day: Wonderful Pistachios Basil Pesto

Recipe by Christy Wilson, RD and presented by Jennifer McDaniel of McDaniel Nutrition Therapy

ST. LOUIS — Wonderful Pistachios Basil Pesto

Serves: 16, Serving Size: 1 tablespoon, Time to Table: 10 minutes

Ingredients

1/8 cup Wonderful Pistachios No Shells

2 cup basil

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1/8 teaspoon lemon zest

¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

Salt, to taste

Directions

  • Add Wonderful Pistachios, basil, garlic, lemon juice, zest, and parmesan cheese to a food processor. Pulse until nuts are finely chopped.
  • Stream olive oil through food chute and puree until smooth.
  • Serve immediately or store in refrigerator up to three days. Can also freeze pesto up to one month.

*Serving suggestion: Spread about 1 teaspoon of Wonderful Pistachio Basil Pesto on slices of toasted whole grain baguette. Top with a slice of fresh mozzarella cheese, a slice of tomato and a basil leaf.

TIPS:

TIP 1: Put More Plants On Your Plate  

  • In the Med diet is rich in fruits and veggies, they eat about 7-10 servings of produce per day.
  • Including veggies at breakfast can help us meet that goal.
  • Simple ways to do this include incorporating leftover veggies to your scrambled eggs or make a smoothie that includes greens such as spinach or kale.

TIP 2: Treat Meat as a Flavor Enhancer

  • The great thing about a Mediterranean diet is that the things we love like meat, cheese, and even wine are not off limits, however, portions matter.
  • Many of the dishes from the Med use meat more as a flavor enhancer compared to being the star of the dish.
  • Look for recipes that use smaller portions of meat IN vegetable or grain based dishes.
  • Try tossing a little shredded chicken or turkey into a grain-and-veggie pilaf or tuck some into stuffed peppers with whole grains, nuts and herbs.

TIP 3: End Your Day with Fruit for Dessert 

  • A goal many of us have is to reduce our intake of added sugars, and one way to do this is to satisfy our sweet tooth with fruit-based desserts.
  • One of my favorite desserts is blending a scoop of plain Greek yogurt with honey, vanilla and topping it with pomegranate seeds & pistachios.

Pom seeds which deep red color is a sign that the fruits are rich in antioxidants that protect your heart and and pistachio nuts which are an ideal source of plant-protein which includes a good dose of fiber and heart-healthy monounsaturated fats.

Before You Leave, Check This Out