Zucchini with Almond Basil Pesto

By inpatskitchen • June 30, 2011 • 2 Comments

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Author Notes: Thanks to Merrill's tutorial on almond flour and butter I now have a bit of homemade almond butter. Paired with fresh zucchini and fresh basil just picked from the garden, I've made a nice little zucchini salad for one. The addition of good quality extra virgin olive oil and parmigiano reggiano really makes it special. The pesto makes much more than needed for one salad serving...just double, triple or quadruple the salad ingredients to feed more. - inpatskitchen

Makes one serving

For the pesto

1/4 cup almond butter
1 to 2 cloves garlic (I like 2)
1 cup fresh basil leaves
2/3 cups extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Place all ingredients in a mini food processor or blender and process until smooth.

For the salad

1 small zucchini, about 8 inches long
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon of the almond basil pesto
2 tablespoons very finely diced red onion
5 or 6 parmigiano reggiano shavings
Salt and pepper for seasoning if desired

With a vegetable peeler peel strips along the length of the zucchini about 1/2 inch wide, peeling until you come to the seedy part. Include the dark green peel.
Place the zucchini in a colander, toss with the 1/2 teaspoon salt and let rest for about 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, rinse the zucchini thoroughly and place on paper towels and pat as dry as possible.
Place the zucchini on the center of a salad plate and drizzle with a tablespoon of the pesto.
Top with the red onion and cheese shavings. Salt and pepper if desired.