Best Sun Dried Tomato Basil Pesto Recipes

BASIL PESTO STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATO CREAM

Steps:

• For Pesto, wash basil and remove stems. In food processor mix basil, garlic, pine nuts, pepper and Parmesan. Blend until smooth and slowly add oil.
• Pound chicken breasts to 1/4 inch thickness. Place one slice prosciutto and 1 T. pesto on chicken breast. Tuck in ends and roll jelly style. Secure with toothpicks.
• Drizzle with 2 T. lemon juice, chopped garlic and olive oil. You may either grill these or bake at 350 for 30 minute.
• While breasts are cooking make basil cream.
• Sauté shallots in butter. Add wine and bring to a boil.
• Cook until liquid is reduced to 1/4 cup Add cream and return to boil. Cook 8- 10 minute or until sauce is reduced to 1 cup.
• Whisk continually, add tomatoes and cook 2 minute Whisk in basil and lemon.
• Cook until heated thoroughly. To thicken sauce add cornstarch mixture slowly.
• Remove toothpick and cut the chicken breasts in slices to show off the center. Drizzle the chicken with sauce.
• **Serve this with your choice of pasta and dbl the sauce, or when it's just Dereck and I, I only make 2 chicken breasts and there is enough sauce for our pasta.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO BASIL PESTO

Steps:

• Combine basil, sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, garlic, and salt in the bowl of a food processor; pulse until blended. Pour olive oil in slowly, with the processor running, until a paste forms. Blend to desired texture.

SMOKED CHICKEN AND SUN-DRIED TOMATO SANDWICHES WITH BASIL OLIVE PESTO

Steps:

• Make sandwiches:
• In a heatproof bowl pour enough boiling water over tomatoes to cover and let stand 20 to 30 minutes, or until soft. Drain tomatoes and pat dry.
• Cut loaf diagonally into 4 pieces and halve each piece horizontally. Spread pesto on cut sides of bread and make 4 sandwiches with chicken, tomatoes, and arugula.
• Make Basil Olive Pesto:
• To a food processor with motor running add garlic and blend until minced. Add basil, parsley, and nuts and blend well. Add oil and blend until smooth. Transfer pesto to a bowl and stir in olives. Pesto may be made 5 days ahead and chilled, surface covered tightly with plastic wrap.
• Bring pesto to room temperature before using. Makes about 3/4 cup.

LAYERED SUN-DRIED TOMATO AND BASIL PESTO DIP

Steps:

• Spread whipped cream cheese in serving dish (best if done at room temp).
• Top with pesto, then sun-dried tomatoes.
• Sprinkle with pine nuts.
• Serve with pita chips or crackers. Yum!

VEGETARIAN BARLEY CASSEROLE WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATO AND BASIL PESTO

Steps:

• For the risotto:
• Bring vegetable broth to a simmer. In a separate large saucepan on an adjacent burner, heat the oil and saute onion until it is translucent. Add barley (or rice) and lightly saute to toast the barley. Add wine and stir for about 2 minutes until it is absorbed. Begin slowly adding broth, 1 ladle-full at a time, to the barley pan, stirring as you go. The friction of the stirring will bring out the starch in the barley. As the mixture absorbs the broth, ladle more into the pot. When all of the broth has been ladled into the barley pot, slowly simmer until barley is soft and creamy. Stir in ricotta to add creaminess, then crumble in goat cheese (to add cohesiveness), stir, cover and set aside.
• For the pesto:
• Place basil in food processor, add pine nuts and garlic, and pulse until chopped. Scrape into a bowl, add Parmesan and stir in oil to form a thick smooth paste. Add black pepper, to taste.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Spread half of the barley (or rice) mixture over the bottom of a lasagna dish or large casserole. Top with half of the sun-dried tomatoes and then with half of the basil pesto. Repeat for a second layer. Bake covered with foil for 25 minutes, then remove foil and continue to bake for 5 minutes to let top layer of pesto become toasted. Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes. Serve garnished with fresh basil sprigs.