This is a delicious and savory mint pesto with the added bonus of a creamy chèvre cheese! I love this pesto! It is so perfect for a summer sandwich or salad.
This was a fun weekend: Robby and I did our normal Friday night dinner and Saturday lunch. After our Saturday lunch, we headed off to the Scotts Valley Wine and Art Festival. What I love about wine festivals is the ability to try a bunch of different winery’s wines all in one place. I love talking with the wine makers; they are always so enthusiastic about each varietal and the process in general. It’s kind of sad that I can’t drink red wine anymore because I LOVE red wine. It makes me feel woozy and heavy-headed. But, there were enough whites to be had. : ) My two favorites were a Chardonnay from Wargin Wines, and a Chardonnay from 37th Parallel Winery which is saying a lot because I’m not always a fan of Chardonnays. Many tend to be too heavy and over oaked for my taste. These two were very crisp and I could actually taste the grape with just a hint of oak. 37th Parallel has three Sauvignon Blancs which are my favorite varietal. Unfortunately, they were not available at the tasting, so I am going to have to visit them! On Sunday I made and took photos of this delicious mint pesto.
This pesto screams white wine! It is great with a crisp non oaky Chardonnay or a Sauvignon Blanc. This pesto would also be amazing on a hot afternoon with a nice Riesling with some fresh fruit, goat cheese and crackers.
Recipe:
- 1/2 Cup Raw Almonds
- 2 Cups Fresh Mint
- 1/2 Cup or 4 oz. Chèvre Cheese
- 1/2 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 Tablespoon Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
- 1 Clove Garlic
- 1/4 Teaspoon Sea Salt
Instructions:
Measure the almonds then put them into a food processor and turn on until the nuts are a finely ground.
Wash and dry the mint then pick off the leaves, measure and add to the almonds.
Measure the cheese, olive oil, lemon, garlic and salt then add to the food processor and puree. Scrape the sides at least once.
Health Benefits:
Mint activates the salivary glands just by the aroma alone, which helps to promote digestion. It relaxes the muscular lining of the digestive tract, improves the flow of bile through the stomach and it soothes the stomach, indigestion, inflammation, abdominal pain, nausea and discomfort associated with IBS. People who suffer from allergies and asthma can benefit from regular use because it is a relaxant and relieves congestion. Mint contains potent antioxidants that decrease levels of free radicals that can cause damage to cells. It is an excellent source of potassium, calcium, iron, manganese and magnesium.
