Basil pesto

Its really hard to get a decent shop bought basil pesto that is vegan. Basil is also a fabulous companion plant to tomatoes so when it is season we are always turning some of it into pesto so as to preserve it.

What you need....

• A lot of basil. Hard to say how much exactly as I've never weighed it. Once the leaves are pulled off the stalks (use the flowers and the seeds too if the plant is running to seed) then you should have enough to fairly tightly fill a large colander. Wash and drain the leaves.
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 1 teaspoon of rock salt
• 1/4 cup of lightly roasted cashews
• 1/2 cup of lightly roasted pine nuts
• Olive oil - keep the bottle handy

The doing....

• Basically, blend it all together (or in our kitchen "Bamix it"). Reserve 1/4 of a cup of the pine nuts though...
  
• Don't hold back on the olive oil - as well as adding flavour it is also the "lubricant" that makes it easier to blend to a smooth consistency
• Once done, mix in the reserved pine nuts.
• Unless you're using this straight away, pour a little more olive oil on top to seal it, sprinkle just a little more salt on to preserve and refrigerate. Should keep for at least 2 weeks.

Marvelous instead of tomato paste on pizza, also tossed with pasta and mushrooms, or indeed however else you want to use it.