Sun-dried Tomato & Almond Pesto
As a kid we never had appetizers, so my mother’s comment that everyone loves them, surprised me. But the fact is, she was right! I’m not sure what prompted her to say it, but I say whip up a few, call your friends, and, voila, you have the makings of a party.
To make things a little more interesting, here’s a variation on the theme. Ask your foodie friends to make an appetizer with at least one unusual ingredient, and have a Guess the Ingredients bash. Skip the ranch dressing and veggies for something with pizazz, say Greg Atkinson’s Sun-dried Tomato and Almond Pesto. The ingredients are a little pricey, but the payoff is a rich, complex spread that earns rave reviews! Versatility earns bonus points: as with any pesto, it doubles as pasta sauce.
At a recent Q & E (Ask questions and Eat) outreach session at Bastyr University, My colleague, Jennifer, and I invited students to submit their best guess for the ingredients in the sun-dried tomato pesto. Although no one came close to guessing the main components, (even our awesome baker, Darrin, said he didn’t have a clue), the fun was in the guessing, everything from smoked tofu to garbanzo beans. Deconstructing recipes is a great way to hone your palate and really pay attention to what you’re eating. When you’re mindful about what you put in your mouth, you eat less and enjoy it more.
Having said that, the real reason to host a Guess the Ingredients party is to have fun with your friends and explore new foods. And, at the end of the day, everyone goes home with new recipes for the holidays. Below are two more to get you started.
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Roasted Red Pepper and Walnut Dip Mystery ingredient? Pomegranate juice.
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Miso, Sesame, and Sweet Potato Dip Check it out. Lots of mysteries in this one.
SHOUTOUT: This one is for my brother, Scott, a lentil convert after reading my post in praise of them, and even sent me a recipe for lentil soup!
Tidbit: If you haven’t made your New Year’s resolutions, add this one to your list: drink that bottle of wine you’ve been saving for a special occasion. If you don’t have one in mind, how about hosting a Guess the Ingredients party?
For some Thai dishes, pad Thai, for instance, my wife, who is from Thailand, says that tamarind juice or tamarind paste is a secret ingredient. You’ll probably have to go to an Asian grocery to find it, but it’s worth it. -kb
I’ve always liked a meal out of starters whether cooking in or eating out! Yours look particularly interesting & healthy!