Saturday, April 16, 2016

Gala Spinach Pesto :: Chef Mark Cleveland @ Hungry Harvest ::



Difficulty: Easy

Time: 20 mins

Servings: a generous quart



When you get the oven extra HOT, might as well do everything in it.  We bring out the savory sweet umami flavors of roasted citrus, gala apples & Bartlett pears with a high heat roast & create a fresh clean Gala Spinach Pesto.



Amount
Measure
Ingredient
Prep Method
1
Medium
Lemon
Peel reserved
1
Large
Navel orange
Peel reserved
1
Medium
Apple

1
Medium
Pear

1 ~ 2
Small
Onions




Set the oven to 550.  Spray a pizza or sheet pan & load on the sliced onion, cored apple & pear & the peeled citrus cut side down.  Put the pan into the HOT oven and set a timer for 15 mins.  



1 ~ 2
Bunches
Fresh spinach
About a quart to 1 ½ quarts


Orange & lemon peels
Optional
1/3
Cup
Cashews
Roasted, unsalted
¼
Cup
Evoo

1
Cup
Water

½
Teaspoon each
Sea salt & black pepper

1
Clove
Garlic
Optional
1
Small
Hot chili
Optional
1
Cup
Fresh basil leaves
Optional




Load your powerful blender with the spinach, citrus peels (opt), cashews, water, salt & pepper, evoo and optional garlic or chili if using.





When the fruit is roasted, add it to the blender jar, nice and hot, on top of the spinach mixture.  Squeeze in the citrus juice.  The residual heat will slightly cook and tenderize the spinach.  I used chili today, but no garlic or basil.  The fresh flavor of the roasted fruit & spinach is spot on & the tropical cashews accentuate the fruit. 



Blend well, starting on a slower speed and increasing to high.  Make sure the pesto is well pureed.  Taste and adjust seasonings.  If you used salted cashews go easy on the salt until you taste the pesto.  If it’s too thick add a little more water or evoo.  Serve w/ the Roasted Carrots & Celery as we did here or w/ favorite pasta, roasted chicken and more.



Serve this w/ Roasted Carrots & Celery as we did for Hungry Harvest Recipes.  This pesto is also superb on ravioli.  Many excellent quality fresh and frozen raviolis are available now and they cook up in minutes.  Let’s see how you tweak & create using these recipes as a starting point for your Hungry Harvest creativity.  Please post your photos all over Hungry Harvest social media.  


Eating Healthy & Delicious is a Win Win Win Situation!
Eat, Live & Party Well
Blog post by Chef Mark Cleveland

Chef Mark Cleveland has joined the team of Hungry Harvest creating recipe & culinary content for success in the kitchen with the amazing produce in each weekly Hungry Harvest box.  Visit www.hungryharvest.net/recipes/  for recipes, photos & More!  Follow HungryHarvest and ChefMarkCleveland on Instagram

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