Here in NYC, summer has suddenly decided to arrive. I mean last week it was rainy and downright COLD, and this morning my walk to the farmer’s market resulted in me drenched in sweat. What the what? When the farmer’s market stalls are overflowing with gorgeous produce, and it’s too hot to really want to think, what do you do?
Eat salad of course! Okay, in hindsight, the recipe I chose actually does involve some real cooking – if you consider boiling a little water for blanching the asparagus and cooking the pasta real cooking – but it’s so delicious, it’s totally worth it.
California Walnuts is hosting a #VirtualSaladParty to encourage us all to eat more walnuts – which contain a ton of healthy Omega-3s and fatty acids that are good for you. I chose a recipe from Mollie Katzen called “spring pasta salad with cilantro walnut pesto” – with my own tweaks!
Isn’t that pretty? I really love colorful, pretty salads – they make me smile, and I feel are generally well-rounded in their nutrients. I don’t know if that’s scientific. But it sounds nice.
The original recipe calls for snow peas, but as asparagus season is upon us in NYC – and EVERYWHERE at the farmer’s market! – I felt it more appropriate. Plus, with our extremely abbreviated spring, I haven’t quite gotten my fill of asparagus yet. A quick blanch in the pasta pot before I cooked the pasta was all it took (I cut them into 1″ pieces before blanching, to be about the same length as the rotini I cooked). I also added diced (raw) purple cabbage because of the color, because of the crunch, and because I really like the slightly bitter taste it imparts to things.
With regard to the walnut cilantro pesto, however… I made some rather large changes. Or maybe not, since I really only added one thing. As I don’t currently have the cookbook to reference yet, I’m not sure if the pesto was intended only for this specific recipe, but even so… well, here’s the original ingredient list (you basically zip it through a food processor; if you’ve ever made pesto of any sort, you are familiar with the process!).
- 1 cup walnut halves
- ½ teaspoon minced or crushed garlic
- 1 cup firmly packed cilantro (leaves and smaller stems)
- Scant 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Walnuts are super rich and oily on their own, part of what makes them so lovely and suited for a recipe like this. I’m not sure why she only wanted us to use a ‘scant’ 1/2 teaspoon of salt; with any sauce I’m making that is intended to be mixed with other things – especially a pasta salad like so – I add way more salt because it will mellow out once it becomes one with the pasta, so to speak. You want it to POP – you want to be able to taste it amongst the rest of the flavors happening.
But an even more egregious omission, I felt, was the lack of acidity. I posted briefly about this on Facebook, and many people piped up to say that the addition of acidity isn’t traditional in a pesto. Okay, fine, but neither are walnuts or cilantro. And the fact is: first that walnuts are so rich and oily… that you need some balance to the recipe. You need that acidity to cut through the richness, to add to cilantro’s brightness and elevate it. You need that little zip! I don’t think Ms. Katzen fails to notice this, either, as one of the steps in the overall recipe for the pasta salad asks that we splash 1 teaspoon of red wine vinegar over the pasta when we toss it with the pesto. I think that little bit of acidity makes a huge difference in the overall dish, too. I added the juice of half a lemon to the pesto itself and was much more pleased with the result than prior to that; I tasted it both ways and really, the lemon made sense.
I also added way more garlic than she requested, but that’s personal preference. I don’t mind smelling like an anti-vampire device.
We were asked to share our opinions of the recipe, and I’m never shy about sharing that. Overall, the end result was lovely, and quite tasty – and still felt light, even though it has cheese in it (which I almost omitted but it actually is a vital part of the recipe). I would definitely make it again. My main suggestions are listed above, with one more: the recipe is for an entire dish, which I understand. But it would be helpful, I feel, if the cilantro walnut pesto recipe were more complete on its own – not just the acidity added, but I followed her measurements for the pesto and found the oil content way too low to resemble a pesto – a slightly loose ‘sauce’ that swallows a spoon easily. This was way thicker once refrigerated, but melted easily into the hot pasta when I tossed it together. Her original recipe calls for you to then add more oil to the pasta.
In any case, I enjoyed the dish and it is featured in my lunches for this week (alongside salmon, my favorite protein to pair with walnuts. Tons of Omega-3s in both!).
Here is the recipe, with my tweaks. Original can be found here.
For the Pasta:
- 8 ounces rotini
- 1/2 cup Cilantro-Walnut Pesto (recipe follows)
- 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar, or to taste
- 1 small red bell pepper, brunoise or very small dice
- 1 bundle asparagus, cleaned, cut into 1″ pieces and blanched quickly in salted water
- diced purple cabbage
- 3 ounces fresh mozzarella – in small dice
For the Cilantro-Walnut Pesto
- 1 cup walnut halves
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 cup firmly packed cilantro (leaves and smaller stems)
- juice of 1/2 lemon, or more to taste
- 1 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 8 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Directions
For the Pasta:
- Cook the pasta according the package instructions. Drain, then toss with the pesto and the vinegar. Stir to blend thoroughly, let it cool to room temperature.
- Stir in the vegetables, followed by the mozzarella.
- Chill and serve cold.
For the Cilantro-Walnut Pesto (Makes 1/2 cup):
- Place the walnuts in a blender or the small bowl of a food processor, and grind to a coarse meal.
- Add the garlic, cilantro, lemon juice and salt, and continue to run the machine until it becomes a uniform green paste (some light walnut texture is fine).
- Run the machine while you drizzle in the oil. Transfer to a container with a tight fitting lid, and refrigerate until use.
This makes a great make-ahead meal, lunches, a picnic side (though I might omit the cheese if I was going to leave it on a picnic table for a few hours – or use packaged mozzarella as I find that tends to deteriorate more slowly in heat), or dish for a potluck. It’s vegetarian-friendly, and easily adaptable for vegans. A great dish that I’m happy to now have in my arsenal! and the leftover pesto makes a GREAT sandwich spread. So good!! (I was dipping fries in it though… hehehe)
Now for the giveaway! I am giving away a copy of Mollie Katzen’s cookbook! As I don’t have it in my hands yet, I don’t know which one it is – but I’m told the most recent one. It might even be signed by her, ooh! To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment below telling me why you want to win the cookbook. Winner will be chosen at random using random.org a week from today, June 16, at 12 noon EST.
Good luck!
I did not receive monetary compensation for this post, though I will receive a copy of the same cookbook, and walnuts as well. Opinions expressed herein are very obviously my own! Contest is open to anyone who wants to enter whose mailing address is within the 48 contiguous states OR who can/will pick the book up from me in NYC/SF.
Ricky says
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS Freeeee stuff GIMMIE!!!
CheeeeEEEEse says
I need this cookbook because walnuts are one of the more healthy ways to introduce good fats (omega 3 fatty acids) into your diet, and I need more ideas on how to use them effectively.
SkippyMom says
I LOVE cookbooks and trying out new recipes. I am also a notorious “tweaker” like you. As for walnuts? MY favorite nut. I put them in everything, even when the recipes call for other nuts [pecans for example]. Peanuts are a far second, but walnuts are it. 🙂
Oh, and just for the sympathy vote [but it is the honest to God’s truth] I am living in the black hole of libraries in our new home town. The library system is so far down the priority list on the budget, the cookbook section consists of one 4 ft shelf, holding a few classics [Joy of Cooking, 1 Julia Child] and a bunch of outdated, farmer’s almanac type cookbooks. Also being this far out in the sticks – I am often without internet access to look up recipes.
Please, please, please. . .
SkippyMom says
PS – that is one of the prettiest salads I have seen. It looks like candy. I can’t wait to make my peach walnut salad. YUM.
hungry says
I actually eat a lot of walnut via the homemade granola I add to my yogurt every morning. I also love making candied walnuts for the honey walnut shrimp dish.
Anyway, I want to win this cookbook so that I can rub it in the losers’ faces.
Dessert Zombie says
Walnuts in my banana walnut bread and in the honey walnut shrimp.
Pasta salad I do enjoy. Especially with Pesto!
When I win, I’ll put it on top of my Flay cookbook. Ah, When cookbooks make-out… *kissy noises*
Stephanie says
I love pasta salads! I’d love to win this cookbook so I can add it to my slowly growing collection of cookbooks. All the ones I currently have are for desserts, haha…
Feisty Foodie says
Congratulations!! You are the winner. Please check your email for further instructions.
Melissa says
I’d like to win because I’m in need of some new recipes!
Goats says
I love punching people in the..I mean I love walnuts….
Christy @ Confessions of a Culinary Diva says
Terrific Salad! Excellent choice for #VirtualSaladParty . I live in the Palm Springs area and summer has been with us since January – I keep hoping for a cool day. Salads make a lot of appearances at our table.
Ttrockwood says
I’ve always liked mollie’s blog- it would be great to have her recipes in one place! I’m always tweaking and tasting recipes as i go, my favorite cookbooks have post its and scribbled notes everywhere!
Carolsue says
I want it because I collect cookbooks; also, if all of the recipes are as good as this one sounds, I need it for good recipe ideas also!