Shiso Pesto

Serves: 4

Prep time: 5 min

Cook time: 15 min

Shiso is an herb that is in the mint family, tastes like a cross between basil and mint, and ranges in color from green to purple. It’s commonly used in Asian cuisine, particularly Japanese cuisine alongside sashimi and rice. We decided to challenge ourselves to make a dish that uses this herb as the main ingredient and highlights the basil-y flavors.

Ingredients

2 cups fresh Shiso leaves

2 tablespoons pine nuts

2-3 tablespoons parmesan cheese

½ teaspoon salt

¼ cup olive oil

Juice of ½ lemon

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients in a food processor except the oil. Pulse the ingredients and then slowly pour in the olive oil until smooth. Taste and add in additional salt and pepper as needed.

2. Use pesto as a sauce for pasta, sautéed with your favorite vegetables, a pizza topping or a sauce for chicken.