Pesto & parmesan rocket salad

An absolute go to for a BBQ spread, or even for a sunny night dinner.
It’s like the classic rocket and parmesan salad, but pimped up with pesto, and I don’t know a single person that doesn’t like pesto, so I feel like everyone’s going to like this.

Use home-made, or store bought pesto for this, but homemade will be miles better, naturally.

Recipe, serves 2-3 as a side

THE PESTO
30g basil
2 tbsp pine nuts
1 tsp white miso or 2-3 tbsp grated parmesan
1 small clove garlic
Hefty pinch of salt
6-8 tbsp olive oil
Pepper
1 tbsp lemon juice

THE REST
1 tbsp toasted pine nuts
Shaved parmesan
2 handfuls rocket
Balsamic to top

Method

1. In a pestle and mortar, mash your basil until the oils are released, and it’s wilted - if you don’t have a pestle and mortar, just add everything to a blender, it’ll taste exactly the same.

2. Add your garlic and salt, then mash with your pestle and mortar until a paste is formed.

3. Add your pine nuts, mashing again until you have a smooth paste, but leaving some chunks of pine nuts for texture.

4. Add your olive oil and miso/ grated parmesan and mix well until you have a smooth pesto, then season to taste and add a squeeze of lemon juice.

5. Once you’re happy with your pesto, add your rocket to a large salad bowl, then add 2-3 tbsp of your pesto and massage with your hands.

6. Top with balsamic, shaved parmesan, more pine nuts, salt and pepper, and serve as a side salad to pizza or pasta.

Notes + Variations:

You can use any store bought pesto like I said, but it is so easy to make your own.