Sun-dried tomato pesto
From WikiDotMako
Inspired by a an unbelievable meal at Konoba Mate in Pupnat on Korčula in Croatia and has been reconstructed similar recipes we've found online:
- 3oz (85 grams) sun-dried tomato (SDT). We've generally had the non-oiled packed sort. If you use the oily ones, those would be great, but you'll wnat to use more.
- 1/2 cup of almonds. We used roasted and lightly salted almonds. The salt is not necessary but give them a dry roast in a pan if you have raw ones.
- 2-3 garlic clove, sliced up
- 1-2 to 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil. Use the best stuff you can find. Seriously. We use the DOP Gata Hurdes from Fairway for this one.
- 1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs, dry roasted in a pan unless they are browned
Instructions involve:
- Use a food processor to pulse the SDT with oil until it's basically a paste. This will usually take some time.
- Add almonds, then garlic, then salt and pepper to taste
Once you're pasta is done:
- Because this pesto is dry, I'll usually add 2 ladel-fulls (maybe a cup?!) of used pasta water to the pesto as I mix it in with the noodles. You want the consistency to be saucy but not wet.
- Add in the breadcrumbs! Keep in mind that they'll soak up water too so you may need even more. If you can keep 'em a little crispy though, that will be great.
Top the plates with:
- chopped parsley
- black peppper
- freshly grated grana padano or parmaggiano regiano