Mushroom, Butter Bean & Cauliflower Warm Pesto Salad
Warm, rich and comforting pesto salad
Ingredients
Basil and walnut pesto
- 2 cups basil leaves well packed
- 1/4 cup raw walnuts
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese grated
- 1 clove garlic smashed
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1 lemon zest
- 1/4 cup olive oil
For the salad
- 500 g cauliflower cut into florets
- 400 g tinned butter beans rinsed and drained
- 500 g white button mushrooms halved
To serve
- handful fresh basil leaves
- lemon wedges
- salt and pepper to taste
- olive oil for cooking
Instructions
For the basil and walnut pesto
- Combine all the pesto ingredients in a food processor, except for the olive oil. Season well with salt and pepper. Blitz until combined and then slowly drizzle the olive oil into the food process or until everything is a smooth consistency.
- Scrape about half a cup of the pesto into a large mixing bowl. Keep the remaining pesto in a jar in the fridge and use for other dishes like smashed avo toast or pesto scrambled eggs.
For the salad
- Bring a pot of water to the boil. Blanch the cauliflower in boiling water for about 2 minutes, depending on the size of the florets. You want it to retain a nice firm texture and not be mushy. Remove the cauliflower with a slotted spoon and add directly to the large mixing bowl of pesto.
- Add the butter beans and mix to combine.
- Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large frying pan. Cook the white buttons on high heat until golden brown and just tender. Season. Add to the mixing bowl of veg and toss them until well coated in the pesto
To serve
- Plate the warm pesto salad and then shower it with basil leaves. Serve with chunky lemon wedges on the side and enjoy!
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