Get ready for an alternative style pesto spread recipe with the healthy nutrients from raw rainbow chard that tastes delicious. For a variety of reasons, our household tries to avoid eating too many tomatoes based products due to the high acidity. As a result, lots of interesting alternative recipes have come to light that are used a pizza or pasta sauces.
Rainbow chard has large tender leaves and mild flavor that works great in pesto. The stalks are beautiful but save them for another dish.
The choice of nuts in pesto can be varied. Cashews have a great flavor and frequent our pantry but consider substituting with walnuts, raw almonds or pine nuts.
The main prep in this pesto sauce is to remove the leaves from the stems of the rainbow chard. No need to chop the leaves, throw them into the food processor with the olive oil, and nuts and let the machine do the work
After blending in a food processor the pesto is ready to serve. Use on pasta, as a pizza sauce, a spread or dip.
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PinDescription
Raw rainbow chard pesto can be used as a spread on crackers, bread, or vegetables. This chard pesto spread works great as a pizza sauce or a pasta sauce.
Ingredients
- 1 bunch red chard (Use just the leaves and save the stalks)
- 1/3 cup cashews
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup Parmesan
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Trim the leaves from the chard. Save or dispose of the stalks.
- Blend all ingredients in a food processor until smooth.
- Eat and enjoy!
Notes
- Recipe is for about 1/2 cup of pesto.
- If the pesto seems too thick you can either add a little water or more oil.
- The cashews can be substituted for other nuts like pine nuts or walnuts.
- To add more kick to the pesto try adding a clove of raw garlic.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 tbs.
- Calories: 228
- Sugar: 0.7g
- Sodium: 387g
- Fat: 21.3g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16.3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 4.7g
- Fiber: 0.6g
- Protein: 6.7g
- Cholesterol: 9mg
Keywords: pesto, rainbow chard, chard, vegetables, sauce, spreads
Ideas how to use chard pesto:
A favorite way to use pesto is as a pizza sauce. Simply spread it on the dough before adding your cheese and toppings.
How did you use the rainbow chard pesto? Let us know in the comments below.
