I have been fortunate enough to, not only have travelled a lot, but to have lived in some of the world's most beautiful and delicious places. One of the most popular dishes, in the western world, is Pesto!
It is hard for anyone to say that they don't like italian food. Most kids grow up on Spaghetti Bolognese and Lasagna and so, we learn to love it from a very young age. As for me, I grew up in a very italian neighbourhood of Montreal. Most of my friends associated themselves with being Italian over being Canadian - eventhough almost none of them had ever been to Italy! And it was an easy thing to believe - I remember going to their houses and feeling like I had just been transported into the italian countryside - their small city gardens covered in vines and tomato plants, just as they would have been in "the old country". I got to try some of the best italian food ever, just by visiting my friends' grandparents, and not ever having to leave Montreal... from stuffed vine leaves to tomato sauce, homemade pickled antipasti.. everything so delicious!
So why, do I have trouble with Pesto! I love the idea of Pesto - Basil is one of my favourite herbs to use, and pine nuts are so decadent - I don't ever turn them down... but put the 2 together, and I'm just not all that into it. I'm not willing to give up, though - I do try it from time to time, in case I eventually find one that I like, because I WANT to like Pesto, but I just don't. So, yesterday, I tried making my own, for the first time, hoping that would be the solution to my problem:
75gr. of Basil
80ml of Olive Oil
2 cloves of garlic
2 tblsps of Pine nuts (slightly browned)
20grs of parmesan
but nope! I still thought it to be quite dry and bland... so, what's the solution? What magical ingredient am I missing? Can anyone help me love Pesto?
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