Wild Garlic Pesto

Wild garlic—also called bear's garlic (Ail des Ours)—is the forest’s quiet secret. Unlike the fiery bite of cultivated garlic, this emerald leaf offers a gentle, sweet perfume that whispers of spring. It is a remarkably versatile condiment: fold its finely chopped leaves into soft butter for a savory spread on morning eggs, tuck a handful of leaves into a ham sandwich for a peppery lift, or infuse a bottle of olive oil (cold) with its delicate essence. Even the star-shaped white blossoms are a jewel box of flavor, ready to garnish dishes. But today, we honor its most famous transformation. Today, we’re making pesto.

Wild Garlic Pesto

Course: spread
Cuisine: French
Keyword: sandwich
Difficulty: easy
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 minute
0 minutes
Total Time: 21 minutes
Servings: 700 grams
Calories: 90kcal
Cost: $10
Wild garlic wonder – from market to pesto…

Equipment

  • 1 Food processor
  • 1 Rubber spatula
  • 1 salad spinner
  • 1 Bowl
  • 2 Deli cups

Ingredients

  • 225 g Wild garlic
  • 200 g Pine nuts or salted macadamia lightly toasted
  • 225 g Olive oil
  • 3 g Grey salt
  • 50 g Grated parmesan

Instructions

Preparing Wild Garlic

  • To store wild garlic longer (about 3 days) keep the bouquet with stems soaked in water in a pitcher, like regular flowers.
  • To prepare wild garlic, pick through the bouquet to remove any impurities. Wash thoroughly, just as you would with salad, and try to keep the original bouquet intact. Drain and trim off the bottom stems (about 3 inches/8cm) and discard. Roughly chop the bouquet.
  • Use a salad spinner to remove excess water, then wrap the wild garlic in a kitchen towel, tap and shake it over the counter for further drying. Save some garlic flowers for garnishing if desired.

Wild Garlic Pesto

  • In the oven or on the stove in a skillet, lightly toast the pine nuts, then transfer them to a plate to cool faster. Wait 10 minutes before using the nuts.
  • Add the chopped wild garlic in the food processor and pulse a couple of times. Add the nuts, parmesan and pulse.
  • While running pour in the olive oil. Season with salt to taste and pulse until desired consistency is reached.

Storing

  • Store garlic pesto in an airtight container or a jar with a tight-fitting lid in the refrigerator up to 7 days. Cover the surface with a thin layer of olive oil before sealing. This prevents oxidation and browning. Or, in the freezer for up to 3–6 months. Move it to the fridge overnight to thaw pesto.
    wild garlic pesto BLT

Nutrition

Serving: 25g | Calories: 90kcal
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