Leek Pesto Crostini
A spring twist on pesto! Leek pesto is made is leeks instead of traditional basil. The resulting pesto is a mild flavored sauce that pairs well with pasta, vegetables, proteins, or bread.
Servings: 8
Ingredients
- 1 crusty baguette preferably seeded*
- olive oil as needed
- leek pesto, recipe follows
- roasted sliced mushrooms as needed
- shaved parmesan cheese as needed
- micro-greens to garnish
Leek Pesto:
- 2 stalks leeks green parts, sliced
- 1 clove garlic
- ⅓ cup pine nuts lightly toasted
- ⅔ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 lemon, juiced
- ¼ cup olive oil
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉. Slice baguette into ⅓” thick slices. Place slices on a parchment lined baking sheet. Lightly drizzle baguette slices with olive oil. Bake for 5-8 minutes until slices are warm and crisp.
- Spread leek pesto onto warm baguette slice. Arrange sliced mushrooms over pesto, followed by shaved parmesan cheese, and top with micro-greens. Serve immediately
Leek Pesto:
- Fill a large saucepot with water and bring to a bowl. Add cleaned, sliced leek greens. Cook for 5 minutes until leeks are soft and tender. Drain and set aside.
- In the food processor, pulse the garlic. Add toasted pine nuts and pulse pulse until combined. Add parmesan cheese, lemon juice, and salt and pepper. Pulse until combined. Slowly add olive oil while the food processor is in motion. Continue to mix until pesto is smooth and homogenous.
- Use immediately. Or, transfer to a covered container and store in the fridge for up to 5 days. Stir before use.
Notes
Ingredients:
- Seeded crusty baguettes adds textural variety. Any baguette or toasted bread will work. Alternatively, use pita chips or crackers.
- I bought my micro greens from Trader Joe’s. They sell a small package of mixed micro greens that consist of a mix of broccoli, purple kohlrabi, kale, mizuna, red mustard, and red cabbage. They are great to toss into salads, sandwiches, and soups.
Nutrition
Calories: 228kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 389mg | Potassium: 99mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 103IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 146mg | Iron: 2mg