Pestos are essentially sauces made from fresh herbs, nuts and cheese. Nearly every cultural cuisine includes some form of pesto. These are some classics but once you recognize the basic ratios, you can start to create your own unique style. All you need are some fresh ingredients and a food processor. It’s super easy.

Ingredients
- 2 c fresh basil leaves, firmly packed
- 3 Tbsp pine nuts
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/4-1/2 c olive oil
- 1/2 c Parmesan cheese
Preparation
- Combine basil, nuts and garlic in a food processor until finely minced As the machine runs, slowly add oil until smooth
- Add cheese and pulse, just until combined.
* we prefer to sauté the garlic for a couple of minutes first to remove the bitter edge. Raw garlic can bother some people’s throats.

Ingredients
- 1 1/2 c watercress
- 2 c packed parsley
- 1 c finely chopped chives
- 1 c packed sorrel
- 1/2 c buttermilk
- 1/2 c plain Greek yogurt
- 1/2 c sour cream
- 1 1/2 tsp walnut oil
- 1 hard boiled egg yolk
- 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
Preparation
Place ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth.

Ingredients
- 2 c packed cilantro
- 2/3 c olive oil
- 1/3 c toasted pumpkin seeds
- 1/3 c grated Parmesan
- 2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
- 1 clove garlic
Preparation
Pulse all ingredients in a food processor until smooth.

Ingredients
- 1 small eggplant, cubed
- 2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 c olive oil
- 1 red bell pepper, seeded and minced
- 1/2 small onion, minced
- 2 plum tomatoes, minced
- 1/2 c ricotta cheese
- 1/3 c packed basil
Preparation
Place the eggplant in a colander and toss with 2 tsp salt Let it sit for 20 min Drain and place on paper towels Heat oil in a large skillet Add peppers and onions Heat, stirring frequently, for 10 min until soft and lightly caramelized Add eggplant and heat for another 8 min, stirring occasionally Add tomatoes for another 5 min Transfer to a food processor Add ricotta and basil Process until smooth.

Ingredients
- 1 c olive oil
- 1/2 c toasted blanched almonds, chopped
- 2 Tbsp minced fresh rosemary
- 2 tsp balsamic vinegar
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp Aleppo pepper
- 20 pitted black olives in oil
- 10 sun dried tomatoes in oil, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
Preparation
Process all of the ingredients in a food processor until smooth
Enjoy your Pestos!
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