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Annie B Kay

telehealth holistic dietitian, yoga therapist

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You are here: Home / Heal with Food / Herb Pesto Recipe: Wild Plant Medicine
Herb Pesto Recipe: Wild Plant Medicine by Annie B Kay - anniebkay.com

Herb Pesto Recipe: Wild Plant Medicine

May 10, 2017 //  by annie//  17 Comments

Herb Pesto Recipe- Wild Plant Medicine by Annie B Kay - anniebkay.com
Pesto is a base recipe for food as medicine. The herbs you use for pesto are concentrated sources of health-enhancing nutrients. Through the seasons, you can make several batches for use on cooked vegetables, grains, really anything and everything.
Pesto is also a great recipe to begin to explore a little wild plant medicine.
When I speak of wild plants, I’m talking about plants you collect from your (unsprayed with chemicals!) lawn or the edge of a forest. I’m taking about dandelion greens, garlic mustard, mugwort and the like.
Many of these wild plants are strongly flavored – I think of them as the wild game of the plant world – and just a little wild food does a human good. So, in a pesto, I will mix familiar herbs like basil with a bit of the stronger wild stuff like dandelion or garlic mustard, depending upon what’s tender and not overwhelming (dandelions, for example, get more and more bitter as the season progresses).
Here is a base recipe for pesto I use and modify based on what’s available. Sometimes I use cheese, often not (I love to eat a lot of it, and cheese is not the most health-enhancing food for me, so I use just a smidgen). I can use creamy pine nuts, toasted walnuts, or sweet almonds depending upon the herbs I have, the flavors I’d like to play with, and what I’m hankering for.
Here it is:

Herbal Pesto Recipe

  • 1 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 2 1/2 cups fresh leafy green herbs (basil, cilantro, thyme, parsley or your favorite)
  • 1/2 cup wild savory herbs (garlic basil, dandelion)
  • 2 garlic cloves, peeled and center woody section removed
  • 1/2 cup nuts or seeds (pepitas, walnuts, almonds)
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Directions

Pour oil into a blender, add garlic, nuts, and herbs in thirds and blend to that lovely pesto loose paste-like consistency. Add salt.
Classic pesto contains basil and pine nuts and a half-cup of Parmesan in the above recipe. Use your imagination and what you have on hand. Variations are endless!
Remember, when it comes to wild food and botanical medicines – safety first!
Herb Pesto Recipe: Wild Plant Medicine by Annie B Kay - anniebkay.com

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Category: Heal with Food, RecipesTag: healthy, healthy eating, pesto, recipe

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. abbie gellman

    May 13, 2017 at 9:14 am

    This is great, I love the discussion about why pesto is beneficial

    Reply
    • Annie Kay

      May 13, 2017 at 11:05 am

      Thanks Abbie – I know you know from experience how wonderful our herbal friends are!

      Reply
  2. Stacey Mattinson

    May 13, 2017 at 10:35 am

    Wow I feel like I just walked through a forest reading this! Great insights. I wish I knew more about wild herbs!

    Reply
    • Annie Kay

      May 13, 2017 at 11:03 am

      Thanks Stacey, and stay tuned! This is an area that has just given me, as a nutritionist, more tools for integrated healing and those I serve love it.

      Reply
  3. Shannon @ KISS in the Kitchen

    May 15, 2017 at 10:17 am

    Looks amazing! I LOVE pesto and this looks so perfect for summer!

    Reply
    • Annie Kay

      May 15, 2017 at 6:48 pm

      Enjoy!

      Reply
  4. Lauren O'Connor

    May 15, 2017 at 12:22 pm

    “Food as Medicine” – love the spin. It surely can be and with all the herbs/greens, this delicious pesto surely is.

    Reply
    • Annie Kay

      May 15, 2017 at 6:48 pm

      Thanks Lauren!

      Reply
  5. Holley Grainger

    May 15, 2017 at 12:52 pm

    I’m definitely pinning this post so I can have your step-by-step directions on-hand.

    Reply
    • Annie Kay

      May 15, 2017 at 6:48 pm

      Awww thanks Holley.

      Reply
  6. Lindsey Pine

    May 15, 2017 at 1:31 pm

    yum!! Pestos are such a great condiment and so versatile! They go with practically anything!

    Reply
    • Annie Kay

      May 15, 2017 at 6:47 pm

      Agree, thanks Lindsey!

      Reply
  7. Sarah Remmer

    May 15, 2017 at 2:27 pm

    I love pesto and love that you are creative with ingredients in your recipe. Next time I’ll step outside of my pesto comfort zone!

    Reply
    • Annie Kay

      May 15, 2017 at 6:47 pm

      Thanks Sarah and yeah, go for pesto zesto!

      Reply
  8. EA The Spicy RD

    May 15, 2017 at 5:32 pm

    What a fun recipe, and delicious way to include some wild greens in your diet! I am a huge pesto fan, so can’t wait to try this!

    Reply
    • Annie Kay

      May 15, 2017 at 6:46 pm

      Great. Let me know how it goes!

      Reply
  9. Mandy

    May 15, 2017 at 6:58 pm

    Loved the explanation of pesto! It is so delicious and versatile!

    Reply

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Annie’s Books on Goodreads

Every Bite Is Divine: The Balanced Approach to Enjoying Eating, Feeling Healthy and Happy, and Getting to a Weight That's Natural for You
Every Bite Is Divine: The Balanced Approach to Enjoying Eating, Feeling Healthy and Happy, and Getting to a Weight That’s Natural for You

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Yoga and Diabetes: Your Guide to Safe and Effective Practice
Yoga and Diabetes: Your Guide to Safe and Effective Practice

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ratings: 6 (avg rating 3.83)



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