Upcycled Vegan Herb Pesto: Leftovers to Gourmet Delight

In our path to a more sustainable kitchen, we often ignore the possibilities inherent in what we regard as “scraps.” Today, I’m looking forward to discussing a cooking trick to turn your left-over herb stems and leaves into a gourmet feast:  Repurposed Vegan Herb Pesto.

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The Wonder of Leftovers from Herb Oil

Once we create aromatic herb-infused oils, we are often left with a bundle of herb remains. Usually intended for the compost heap, these tasty leaves and stems are nutritional and a great treasure. Using these leftovers helps to cut waste and produces a great, adaptable sauce that will improve any dinner.

Pine nuts and hemp seeds make a nutrition powerhouse.

Hemp seeds and pine nuts give our recycled pesto even more nutritional value. Rich in heart-healthy lipids and protein, pine nuts impart a buttery texture and subdued sweet taste. A complete protein source loaded with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, hemp seeds give our pesto a nutty taste and creamy mouthfeel.

Sustainability in Every Meal

This dish embodies the core of sustainable cooking. By using herb leftovers, we’re doing zero-waste cooking at its best. Choosing plant-based foods like hemp seeds also fits with eco-friendly eating patterns, lowering our carbon footprint one great taste at a time.

Adaptability: Beyond Pasta

Although pasta is usually associated with pesto, our recycled creation is a gourmet chameleon. For a quick taste boost, spread it on sandwiches, use it as a dip for raw veggies, or dollop it onto soups for an aromatic finish. It’s also excellent as a flavor-packed dressing for grain bowls or a marinade for grilled veggies.

Benefits for Health

This pesto is a nutritious powerhouse beyond only great taste. While the nuts and seeds supply good fats and proteins, the herbs offer a concentrated supply of antioxidants and vitamins. It’s an ideal complement to a healthy, plant-based diet.

Customizing is Everything!

This dish is beautiful in its adaptability. Although we have recommended hemp seeds and pine nuts, feel free to play with whatever nuts or seeds you have. Perfect are walnuts, almonds, or sunflower seeds. Likewise, any mix of herb remnants produces distinctive taste sensations ranging from basil and parsley to cilantro and mint.

This is tarragon, which has such a subtle flavor.

Free Ebook

The food we eat significantly impacts our health, but how we prepare it can also have an effect. Eating a diet high in processed foods, sugar, and unhealthy fats can lead to many health problems, such as obesity and heart disease. Furthermore, what if I told you that changing these factors could make all the difference? You can improve your health by cooking your meals with whole food and plant-based ingredients. First, grab this free recipe ebook that incorporates flavors and principles from my Ayurvedic and Lifestyle Medicine training, and it is 100% plant-based. Then let me know what you have made.

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Leaning into YOUR Culinary Originality

Making this recycled herb pesto is about embracing culinary creativity and finding value in every component, not just following a formula. This is a little step towards a more sustainable way of life, and it shows that tasty food can also be simple.

So, please don’t throw away the herb leftovers from oil infusions the next time. Rather, gather some hemp seeds and pine nuts and get ready to make a pesto fit for your taste buds, your budget, and the earth.

Please help me get the word out about plant-based healthy living so that doctors know the value of lifestyle changes by sharing this post on your social media.

Print

Click on the image to grab the ingredients from Instacart from a list I have personally selected. The app will let you pick the store and provide a basis for the shopping and ingredient list. Then you can choose what you need. It has worked great for us.

Also, if you select the “pick up” option, which you can do on your way home from work, you may even receive a small credit on your purchases for your next visit.

To sum up, if you are a busy professional, look into Instacart to eat healthier when your schedule is hectic, either as a delivery or pick-up option.

What else can you do with the herb pulp??

Do you recall the butterfly pea flower tortillas?

You also use some of the pulp to make this vegan chive tortilla. With the pesto on top, I think I may have had my bite so far this summer!!

You can use that recipe, but add the pulp instead of the butterfly pea powder. There is so much fun to be had in the summer!

Summer gardens and farms are so full of fresh herbs right now. There are so many options, and honestly, sometimes I get a little bit anxious this time of year when everything is this abundant, recognizing we’re kind of in the peak of summer, and slowly, as August and September arrive, things begin to wind down.

But that’s life, too. It is filled with rhythms and seasons to let go! 

Fresh Herbs are Amazing too!

Making herb oils has become a real passion of mine. I get excited every time I come home from the farmers market with fresh herbs, also common herbs that grow in the summer.

So much to make with them.

I can make fresh dishes with fresh herbs, vinegar, salts, and oils and even dry them so that her plants can last well through the winter.

But inevitably, some oil and plant is left with the herb oils I don’t like to waste, so here’s a great solution. Let me know what you think!

Kitchen Supplies

Having the right supplies makes working in the kitchen easier. Click on the image to see how I love storing my food.

These are some of my favorite ways to store warm food in glass containers. The Weck and Ball Glass jars are absolute staples in my kitchen.

Let’s Explore Seasonal Eating: Summer

We love going to the farmer’s market. While we can’t make it every week, there is much to consider. The sage and oregano were so beautiful that I picked some of them up, too!

What is Seasonal Eating?

I am particularly interested in the role of local and/or seasonal eating. I believe that connection to seasonal living builds a steady and essential connection to nature. Fortunately, this is not just my opinion; scientific data exists to explore this notion.

Eating locally and seasonally has been proposed to reduce the environmental impact of food production and enhance consumer health (Macdiarmid, 2013). However, the evidence supporting this idea is mixed. While some studies have found that local food can be inferior to non-local food (Edwards-Jones, 2010), others have highlighted the potential benefits of consuming local seasonal food for sustainable consumption (Vargas, 2021). The link between eating seasonally and reducing environmental impacts in the food chain has also been explored, with some research suggesting a potential benefit (Brooks, 2011). However, the overall impact of eating locally and seasonally on health and the environment remains complex and nuanced.

Seasonal Recipe Book: My Summer Favorites!

I’m so delighted to share with you a new seasonal cookbook that I have created that is available for purchase. Please click through on the link to learn all about it. AND the best part is that I will be creating one for each season. Hope you enjoy and if you make one of the recipes, please let me know.

References

• Macdiarmid JI. Seasonality and dietary requirements: will eating seasonal food contribute to health and environmental sustainability? Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. 2014;73(3):368-375.
• Edwards-Jones G. Does eating local food reduce the environmental impact of food production and enhance consumer health? Proc Nutr Soc. 2010 Nov;69(4):582-91.
• Vargas AM, de Moura AP, Deliza R, Cunha LM. The Role of Local Seasonal Foods in Enhancing Sustainable Food Consumption: A Systematic Literature Review. Foods. 2021; 10(9):2206.
• Brooks, M., Foster, C., Holmes, M.R., & Wiltshire, J.J. (2011). Does consuming seasonal foods benefit the environment? Insights from recent research. Nutrition Bulletin, 36, 449-453.
• Jaqua E, Biddy E, Moore C, Browne G. The Impact of the Six Pillars of Lifestyle Medicine on Brain Health. Cureus. 2023 Feb 3;15(2):e34605.
• Elicit; Elicit: The Al Research Assistant; https://elicit.com; accessed 2/8/2024

In the complexity of considering the regional needs and long-term goals of feeding populations, I also believe that seasonal and, when feasible, local eating helps us cultivate mindfulness skills, paying attention to what is close and relevant. Exploring markets and local farms builds community connections, which is also part of Lifestyle Medicine’s core pillars of health.

Fear not! There is even more you can do!

You can even freeze the pulp into ice cubes! Save them for later in the year when you want them for soup or roast veggies. They keep great in the freezer.

Earn CME

This experience is powered by CMEfy – an AI-powered platform that directs learners along a pathway to capture reflections at the point of inspiration, point of care. Clinicians may earn CME/CE credit via ReflectCE, the accredited activity portal. Learn more at about.cmefy.com/cme-info

The CE experience for this Blog Post / Article is powered by CMEfy – click here to reflect and earn credits: https://earnc.me/7CbypP

Review recent seasonal plant-based posts here!

Thanks for checking out this week’s post to the end!

If you make this, tag me on social media at @doctorsirichand. I would love to see your variations and flavor options. Save this Recipe for later at your favorite place. I like using PINTEREST, but you could also clip it elsewhere.