This Simple Tomato Salad with Parsley and Walnut Pesto is one of my favourites!
Are you a good gardener? Do you have green fingers? You might think I’m going completely mad by talking about gardening on a recipe website.
As Simple as growing your own food
If you are at all inclined to get those fingers dirty and head outdoors for some gardening TLC, you might find yourself with a few shrubs of herbs, that could just brighten up the dinner table.
My mom is a great gardener, an expert, if I have to say so myself. What I admire most about her ability, is that she really engulfs herself in this craft by sharing her never ending knowledge of each herb, indigenous tree and shrub with me, when she visits.
Not that I am at ALL capable of following her advice. To her it is simply therapy, getting your hands muddy and strategically placing each plant at its rightful place – and accidentally discovering a spider’s nest as big as a tennis ball in my garden…
I am yet to find my sanctuary in a mucky garden bed. Sorry Ma. However, since our little family’s long term plan here on earth includes a sustainable small holding somewhere in the South of France, eventually, I better get on this. Right?
Simple Tomato Salad with Parsley Pesto
So back to the point of plants = dinner table. With global trends hitting our screens everyday, self sustainable farming has quickly jumped onto everybody’s bucket list. Growing and cultivating your own food gives warm and fuzzy feelings all around. You might find you are already doing that, on a small scale.
Not just a garnish.
Parsley. This humble herb with its vibrant and fresh green taste, will grow every year once it has been planted in your garden, without too much fuss. It has major health benefits against rheumatoid arthritis, good for a healthy heart, and a rich source of antioxidants.
If you find yourself with a little too much parsley in your garden, a quick Parsley and Walnut Pesto is the answer. I find that making pesto is the perfect way to preserve those delicate leaves of herb, and is a great addition to brighten up the dinner plate with a refreshing kick of flavor.
And since you might find a few tomatoes on your vines, a salad like this Simple Tomato Salad with Parsley and Walnut Pesto speaks volumes of our unassertive home, planet Earth.
For more pesto deliciousness and inspiration:
Sweet Potato Mash with Onion, Mushroom and Pesto Gravy
Macaroni and Pesto Chicken with Red Pepper Tomato Sauce
Bruschetta with Brown Mushrooms, Peppers and Coriander Pesto
Pesto Chicken with Brown Mushrooms on Zucchini Noodles
Slow Roasted Leg of Pork with Ginger and Coriander Pesto
Roasted Leg of Lamb with Mint Pesto
| Prep Time | 10 min |
| Cook Time | 5 min |
| Servings | servings |
- two cups parsley washed and roughly chopped
- 2 cloves garlic peeled
- 3/4 cup walnuts
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan
- 3/4 cups olive oil
- 1 squeeze lemon juice
- 2 white or brown bread buns pulled apart
- pinch or two sesame seeds
- drizzle olive oil
- 2 cups exotic tomato mix some left whole, others sliced in half
- 1 cup creamy feta cheese
- salt and black pepper to season
Ingredients
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- First off, for the pesto - transfer the parsley, garlic, walnuts, parmesan, olive oil and lemon juice to a pestle and mortar. Grind until you have a rough paste. Add more olive oil if needed.
- Next up, arrange the pulled apart bread on a baking tray and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Drizzle with olive oil and toast.
- For the salad: Combine the tomatoes, feta cheese, crispy toasted bread and pesto in a mixing bowl - mix, season and serve.
