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  • Maple Syrup Pesto Recipe | Once Upon a Pesto

    Maple Syrup Pesto Recipe INSPIRED BY CANADA SA DF The maple leaf is almost synonymous with Canada, from its image and name to the byproduct of its tree. In terms of the maple leaf image, Canada’s flag shows it big, red, and central. The maple leaf image was also used in 1868 on the coat of arms of both Quebec and Ontario. In terms of the name, “The Maple Leaf Forever” is the title of a Canadian song that became English-speaking Canada’s unofficial anthem. And last but not least, Canada produces about three-quarters of the world’s pure maple syrup. Maple syrup production began in Canada when indigenous people taught European settlers techniques to harvest sap during the 18th century. SAVE FOR LATER Makes 1 3/4 cups Ingredients 1/4 cup shelled pecans 2 cups peeled and cut raw acorn squash 1/4 cup 100% pure maple syrup 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1 teaspoon vanilla Directions Combine all of the ingredients in a food processor. Blend until the desired consistency forms. If using a mortar and pestle, crush the pecans until a fine crumb forms. Add the acorn squash and mash until smooth. Mix in the remaining ingredients. Mash until the desired consistency forms. Store pesto in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to one week. Use throughout the week in the next two recipes. Pesto can last in an airtight container in the freezer for up to six months. Uses Bacon Monkey Bread In Canada, there’s no such thing as Canadian bacon. The term is used because when there was a shortage of pork in the United Kingdom during the 19th century, pork was imported from Canada. Canadian bacon is made from the lean eye of the loin while other bacon comes from the pig's belly. Rum Milkshake One of Canada’s most popular alcoholic drinks pairs rum and maple syrup with mulled wine. This drink, called Caribou, is often served at Quebec’s Winter Carnival. Not too far away, Nova Scotia is considered rum country. Distilling rum actually preceded building ships in this maritime province.

  • Rutabaga Pesto Recipe | Once Upon a Pesto

    Rutabaga Pesto Recipe INSPIRED BY SWEDEN SA DF NF Rutabaga comes from the Swedish dialect and means short root. A cross between turnip and cabbage, this root vegetable is commonly called swede because it was first raised during the late Middle Ages in this Scandinavian nation, where citizens are also referred to as swedes. Another name for rutabaga is Swedish turnip, indicating not only the root’s origin but also that Swedish people are some of the only frequent eaters of rutabaga. SAVE FOR LATER Makes 2 cups Ingredients 2 cups cubed rutabaga, cooked in 1 tablespoon olive oil for 15 minutes 1 medium golden delicious apple, chopped 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 cup water Directions Combine all of the ingredients in a food processor. Blend until the desired consistency forms. If using a mortar and pestle, mash the rutabaga, apple, and rosemary until smooth. Mix in the remaining ingredients. Mash until the desired consistency forms. Store pesto in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to one week. Use throughout the week in the next two recipes. Pesto can last in an airtight container in the freezer for up to six months. Uses Sweet Buns Kanelbullar , a popular bakery item in Sweden, are cinnamon buns made with a cardamom dough, orange flavoring, and crunchy sugar. They’re not usually overly sweet despite their English name. Swedish Tuna Balls Smörgåsbord is a Swedish culinary tradition that includes köttbullar . These Swedish meatballs are made with ground meat and herbs, but swedes also eat fish balls called fiskbullar . With a coastline about 2,000 miles long, fish and the process of preserving fish are traditions in Swedish culture.

  • TEMPLATE Pesto Recipe | Once Upon a Pesto

    Asparagus Pesto Recipe INSPIRED BY PERU SA DF NF SW Peru ranks as one of the world's largest producers of asparagus. Through irrigation methods, farmers are able to grow the stalk year-round and the plants are productive for 15 to 20 years. Half of their crops are green asparagus; the other half are white. Asparagus is thought to have originated in the Mediterranean area. Today, the majority of the asparagus produced in Peru is sent to Europe, making the history and production of asparagus a complete circle. SAVE FOR LATER Makes 2 cups Ingredients 1/3 cup shelled pistachios 3 cups 1-inch asparagus pieces (about 3/4 lb asparagus stalks) 1/2 cup diced sweet onion 3 tablespoons ricotta cheese juice of 1/2 lemon 1/4 cup olive oil 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Directions Combine all of the ingredients in a food processor. Blend until the desired consistency forms. If using a mortar and pestle, crush the pistachios until a fine crumb forms. Add the asparagus and onion, and mash until smooth. Mix in the remaining ingredients. Mash until the desired consistency forms. Store pesto in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to one week. Use throughout the week in the next two recipes. Pesto can last in an airtight container in the freezer for up to six months. Uses Quinoa Soup Quinoa originated in the Andean region in and around Peru. As a protein-rich ancient grain in a nation where meat is sometimes scarce, it's a staple both on plates and in a traditional bowl of soup. Street Corn Choclo is a variety of corn grown in the Andean Mountains of Peru. It's sweet and made of large grains. It's common to find it topped with cheese and sold as street food in Peru.

  • Olive Pesto Recipe | Once Upon a Pesto

    Olive Pesto Recipe INSPIRED BY EGYPT SA NF Since 2500 B.C., olives have been cultivated in the Mediterranean. Their early history occurs in Egypt and then travels north across the Mediterranean Sea to Italy. Centuries later, olives reached the New World and now are grown as far away from their origins as Asia and Australia. Olives in ancient Egypt extended beyond food. Olive branches made into ornaments and crowns were found in the tomb of King Tut, a famous ancient Egyptian pharaoh. SAVE FOR LATER Makes 1 cup Ingredients 1 1/2 cups pitted olives 2 tablespoons chopped shallot 3 ounces feta cheese 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon olive oil Directions Combine all of the ingredients in a food processor. Blend until the desired consistency forms. If using a mortar and pestle, mash the olives and shallot until smooth. Mix in the remaining ingredients. Mash until the desired consistency forms. Store pesto in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to one week. Use throughout the week in the next two recipes. Pesto can last in an airtight container in the freezer for up to six months. Uses Mediterranean Salad In Egypt, meze is the term that encompasses starters and salads served with bread prior to the main meal. One such salad is called salata baladi . It’s made with tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and fresh flavorings. Mac 'N Cheese Some believe that cheese originated in the Middle East since jars dating to the First Dynasty of Egypt were found containing traces of it. While macaroni and cheese is likely from Europe, pasta, often in the form of elbow noodles, is a main ingredient in what some consider Egypt’s national dish, kushari .

  • Passion Fruit Pesto Recipe | Once Upon a Pesto

    Passion Fruit Pesto Recipe INSPIRED BY PUERTO RICO DF SW In Puerto Rico, passion fruit is known as parcha . It's often used in juices, ice cream, and pastries. The fruit, found in many other tropical countries, consists of a rind that encases about 250 seeds, which are each surrounded by membranes of an acidic juice. The name passion fruit dates back to the fruit’s origins in South America, particularly in Brazil. The passion fruit flower appeared in religious drawings, and priests saw them as symbols for Christ’s Passion. SAVE FOR LATER Makes 1 cup Ingredients 1/2 cup shelled cashews flesh of 3 passion fruit 1/2 cara cara orange with rind, plus 1 tablespoon juice 3/4 cup chopped fresh basil 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1 tablespoon honey Directions Combine all of the ingredients in a food processor. Blend until the desired consistency forms. If using a mortar and pestle, crush the cashews until a fine crumb forms. Add the passion fruit, cara cara orange, and basil, and mash until smooth. Mix in the remaining ingredients. Mash until the desired consistency forms. Store pesto in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to one week. Use throughout the week in the next two recipes. Pesto can last in an airtight container in the freezer for up to six months. Uses Caribbean Coleslaw with Mango Cabbage is one of the most widely used vegetables in Latin American countries. Mango is also a popular ingredient in Puerto Rican cooking. Even though mango is not indigenous to the island nation, mango trees line Puerto Rico’s roadsides, sometimes growing up to 40 feet tall. Piña Colada In 1978, Puerto Rico named the piña colada its national beverage. The drink is said to have been first concocted in 1954 by Ramón Marrero, who then personally served the cocktail for the next 35 years while he bartended at a hotel in San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico.

  • Grape Pesto Recipe | Once Upon a Pesto

    Grape Pesto Recipe INSPIRED BY GEORGIA SW Georgia is a nation that straddles Europe and Asia. The country boasts over 450 grape varieties among its roughly 500 acres of vineyards. A significant number of Georgia’s grapes are used in winemaking, a process that began there over 8,000 years ago. In addition to accounting for almost 20 percent of the world’s total grape varieties, Georgia also grows endangered vines that are not grown anywhere else. SAVE FOR LATER Makes 1 3/4 cups Ingredients 1/3 cup shelled walnuts 2 cups red seedless grapes, rinsed and pat dry 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary 2 oz goat cheese 2 tablespoons honey 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar Directions Combine all of the ingredients in a food processor. Blend until the desired consistency forms. If using a mortar and pestle, crush the walnuts until a fine crumb forms. Add the grapes and rosemary, and mash until smooth. Mix in the remaining ingredients. Mash until the desired consistency forms. Store pesto in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to one week. Use throughout the week in the next two recipes. Pesto can last in an airtight container in the freezer for up to six months. Uses Eggplant Rolls Eggplant rolls are traditionally served at Georgian feasts, called supra . They’re made of eggplant slices filled with a blend of garlic and walnuts. The dish is usually served with other vegetable starters. Churchkhela Sweets in Georgia are usually made with sugar, nuts, and fruit. Churchkhela , for example, is a traditional Georgian candy that traces its roots to the Caucasus region. The main ingredients are grape must, nuts, and flour.

  • Travel | Once Upon a Pesto

    Travel the world with pesto recipes. Explore 40 different countries across the globe while discovering new ways to make pesto. Travel the World with Pesto Peru Uganda France Armenia Cyprus India Mozambique Korea Russia Southern U.S. South Africa Japan New Zealand Belgium Georgia New York Myanmar Malaysia Australia Thailand Canada Mayan Ethiopia Egypt Iran Greece Puerto Rico Midwest Fiji Brazil Croatia Native American Spain Chile Sweden Morocco China Nigeria Switzerland Italy

  • Onion Pesto Recipe | Once Upon a Pesto

    Onion Pesto Recipe INSPIRED BY IRAN SA The oldest known cultivation of onions dates to about 7,000 years ago. Some believe this bulb vegetable first grew in Iran. Thereafter, onion cultivation spread fast since onions are easy to grow as well as adaptable to different soils and climates. Since onions naturally leave little to no trace for archaeologists to dig up, the precise origins of these vegetables are unknown. SAVE FOR LATER Makes 1 3/4 cups Ingredients 1/4 cup shelled walnuts 2 cups quartered sweet onion 1/2 cup fresh mint 1/4 cup blue cheese 1/2 cup butter beans, rinsed and drained 2 tablespoons olive oil Directions Combine all of the ingredients in a food processor. Blend until the desired consistency forms. If using a mortar and pestle, crush the walnuts until a fine crumb forms. Add the onion and mint, and mash until smooth. Mix in the remaining ingredients. Mash until the desired consistency forms. Store pesto in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to one week. Use throughout the week in the next two recipes. Pesto can last in an airtight container in the freezer for up to six months. Uses Roast Beef Pinwheels As a whole, kebabs (or kabobs) encompass various meat dishes that originated in the Middle East. One type of kebab popular in Iran is kebab koobideh , or kobida . This meat kebab is made with ground lamb or beef and mixed with chopped onions. Another kebab variation is the shish kebab . Naan Bread Naan is the word for bread in Iran. It also refers to a specific type of bread that Persians enjoy with cheese or butter. Traditionally, this flatbread is oven-baked and stuffed with some type of meat.

  • All Pesto Recipes | Once Upon a Pesto

    Dozens of unique and delicious pesto recipes, including some that are dairy-free and some that are nut-free. All recipes are categorized as savory pesto or sweet pesto. All Pesto Recipes Asparagus Pesto View More Banana Pesto View More Broccoli Pesto View More Cantaloupe Pesto View More Caper Pesto View More Carrot Pesto View More Cassava Pesto View More Celery Pesto View More Cherry Pesto View More Collard Greens Pesto View More Corn Pesto View More Daikon Pesto View More Eggplant Pesto View More Endive Pesto View More Grape Pesto View More Green Bean Pesto View More Lemon Pesto View More Lemongrass Pesto View More Macadamia Pesto View More Mango Pesto View More Maple Syrup Pesto View More Mushroom & Chia Pesto View More Okra Pesto View More Olive Pesto View More Onion Pesto View More Parsley Pesto View More Passion Fruit Pesto View More Pecan Pesto View More Pickle Pesto View More Pineapple Pesto View More Plum Pesto View More Pumpkin Pesto View More Red Cabbage Pesto View More Rhubarb Pesto View More Rutabaga Pesto View More Spices Pesto View More Spinach Pesto View More Swiss Chard Pesto View More Yam Pesto View More Zucchini Pesto View More DF SW NF SW SW SW SA DF NF SW NF SA SA NF SA SA DF SA DF SW SA SA DF DF NF SA SW SA SA SA DF SW SA SW DF SA NF SA SA NF DF NF SA SA DF SA DF SA DF SA DF DF SA DF SA SA DF DF NF SA DF NF SA DF SA SA SA SA NF SA

  • Swiss Chard Pesto Recipe | Once Upon a Pesto

    Swiss Chard Pesto Recipe INSPIRED BY SWITZERLAND SA Chard comes from the Latin word that means artichoke thistle. The reason it was named Swiss is unclear because Swiss chard is not actually native to Switzerland. Instead, this leafy green comes from the Mediterranean. Swiss chard is a much older close relative of beets. During the 19th century, a Swiss botanist determined the scientific name for Swiss chard. To honor his nationality, the leafy green earned its common name. SAVE FOR LATER Makes 2 cups Ingredients 1/3 cup shelled walnuts 15-20 leaves of Swiss chard, chopped 3 garlic cloves, peeled 1/2 cup Gruyère cheese, shaved 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup olive oil 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar Directions Combine all of the ingredients in a food processor. Blend until the desired consistency forms. If using a mortar and pestle, crush the walnuts until a fine crumb forms. Add the Swiss chard and garlic, and mash until smooth. Mix in the remaining ingredients. Mash until the desired consistency forms. Store pesto in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to one week. Use throughout the week in the next two recipes. Pesto can last in an airtight container in the freezer for up to six months. Uses Leek Galette As a landlocked nation, Switzerland is bordered by France, Italy, Germany and Austria. Swiss cuisine is therefore largely influenced by these neighbors. One French culinary influence is the galette , a flat puff pastry tart. Barley Minestrone One of Switzerland’s neighbors is Italy. Minestrone , a popular Italian soup, comes from an Italian verb that means to dish up. Thus, the recipe really isn’t written in stone. The soup’s ingredients vary from cook to cook and day to day.

  • Spices Pesto Recipe | Once Upon a Pesto

    Spices Pesto Recipe INSPIRED BY MOROCCO SA DF Moroccan dishes feature flavors common among Mediterranean and Arabic cultures. Spices, in particular, take on a very serious role in Morocco. They fill Moroccan markets, and combining spices into unique mixtures has no limit. One commonly used spice blend, called ras el hanout , consists of 27 different spices. Among the most commonly used spices in Morocco are cardamom, cumin, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, chili pepper, paprika, fenugreek, and turmeric. SAVE FOR LATER Makes 1/4 cup Ingredients 1 tablespoon pine nuts 2 cups fresh parsley 2 garlic cloves, peeled 1 teaspoon peeled fresh ginger 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice 4 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 teaspoon each: salt, cumin, cinnamon, turmeric Directions Combine all of the ingredients in a food processor. Blend until the desired consistency forms. If using a mortar and pestle, crush the pine nuts until a fine crumb forms. Add the parsley, garlic, and ginger, and mash until smooth. Mix in the remaining ingredients. Mash until the desired consistency forms. Store pesto in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to one week. Use throughout the week in the next two recipes. Pesto can last in an airtight container in the freezer for up to six months. Uses Couscous Salad Couscous is very popular in Morocco due to its simplicity and affordability. It’s common for people to eat couscous on Fridays. This weekly tradition allows families to gather for a feast. During these family feasts, couscous is typically eaten by hand or with a spoon. Lamb and Candied Fruit One of the most common meats eaten in Morocco is lamb. Moroccan lamb has a different taste from Western lamb because of where the sheep store their fat. The most common dish made with lamb in Morocco is called tagine . This dish is sweet and zesty, and is usually made with fruit and nuts.

  • Banana Pesto Recipe | Once Upon a Pesto

    Banana Pesto Recipe INSPIRED BY UGANDA DF NF SW Bananas are a staple in Uganda. From green bananas called matooke to fermented banana wine, Ugandans not only consume the most bananas per person—500 pounds per person per year—but this African country is also the world’s largest banana producer. While production and consumption are very high, Ugandan people also don’t waste any part of the banana plant. They use banana leaves to make roofs and banana fibers to make clothing and handicrafts. SAVE FOR LATER Makes 1 3/4 cups Ingredients 1 tablespoon sesame seeds 1 1/2 cups peeled ripe banana (or 2 small bananas) 1 1/2 cups quartered strawberries 1/2 cup orange slices 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom 1/2 tablespoon honey Directions Combine all of the ingredients in a food processor. Blend until the desired consistency forms. If using a mortar and pestle, crush the sesame seeds until a fine crumb forms. Add the banana, strawberries, and orange, and mash until fairly smooth. Mix in the remaining ingredients. Mash until the desired consistency forms. Store pesto in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to one week. Use throughout the week in the next two recipes. Pesto can last in an airtight container in the freezer for up to six months. Uses Spiced Chicken Among some Ugandan people, meat is reserved for special celebrations. It may be chicken or beef, and roasted or grilled. When preparing chicken in Uganda, it’s often flavored with salt and then some pineapple or lemon juice to accelerate the cooking time. Cassava Muffins In addition to banana, other Ugandan staples include cassava, maize, and yam. It’s seen as a reliable and affordable source of carbs. But cassava didn’t arrive in Uganda until the 19th century. Now, the starchy root appears worldwide in several consumable forms, including cassava flour.

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