Best Simple Roasted Garlic Pesto Recipes

BASIL AND ROASTED GARLIC PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cut top 1/3 off of garlic head; peel away paper skin to thin layer or 2 surrounding the cloves.
• Place in small ovenproof dish; drizzle top with 2 teaspoons of olive oil.
• Cover with foil and bake in preheated oven for 70 minutes; allow to cool.
• Squeeze garlic out of the paper skin into a small bowl; set aside.
• Place half the basil in a blender; add 1/2 the extra virgin olive oil, garlic, parsley, pine nuts, salt, pepper, and the remaining basil, the other half of the oil, and pulse until blended.
• Remove mixture to a bowl; add the parmesan and juice from lemon wedge and mix well.
• Adjust salt and pepper to taste.

SHRIMP WITH ROASTED GARLIC PESTO PASTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Place garlic cloves in a single layer in a small baking dish. Add 1/2 cup olive oil to cover cloves, cover with foil, and bake 45 minutes, until golden brown and fork-tender. Meanwhile, in another baking dish, toss tomatoes with enough oil to coat. Lightly season with salt and pepper and roast at same temperature until tomatoes blister, about 25 minutes.
• Strain garlic cloves and set aside in a small bowl, reserving infused oil separately. In a blender, add the roasted tomatoes, roasted garlic, Parmesan, and basil. Pulse until combined. While machine is running, drizzle in 1/2 cup olive oil until pesto comes together. Season with 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt. Remove to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and reserve.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium heat. Add the linguine and cook until al dente. Drain.
• Meanwhile, heat a saute pan over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the garlic oil. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper and saute until the shrimp turn pink and is cooked through.
• In a large bowl add the linguine and some of the pesto. Toss to coat and top with the shrimp. Garnish with toasted pine nuts and serve.
• Note: There will be leftover pesto.

ROASTED GARLIC BASIL PESTO

Steps:

• Slice the root end off the garlic and brush with some olive oil Roast garlic, wrapped in foil at 375 for about half an hour. It should be extremely soft and golden brown. Squeeze all the garlic from the cooled head to add to the recipe. (You can also just peel garlic and slowly saute in olive oil until golden.)
• OPTIONAL STEP--- Have ready a bowl of ice water. In a saucepan of boiling salted water blanch basil, a handful at a time, 2 seconds, transferring with a slotted spoon to bowl of ice water to stop cooking. Drain basil in a sieve and pat dry. This prolongs the life of the pesto sauce and makes it better for freezing.
• In a food processor or with an immersion blender, purée basil with remaining ingredients until smooth and season with salt and pepper. Makes about a cup and a half -- .

SIMPLE ROASTED GARLIC PESTO

Steps:

• Cut off the top of a whole head of garlic so most of the cloves show through the top.
• Wrap in foil and bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.
• In a food processor add the roasted garlic, basil (crush in fingers as you add it), cheese and about 2 tbs oil.
• Pulse and check consistency. If its too thick add more oil.
• Enjoy over pasta!