Superfood Broccoli Pesto

Cruciferous vegetables have many health benefits of their own (especially: a lot of anticancer benefits). But, it can be hard to include them in every day’s menu, so this is just one more way that’ll broaden your options! It’s delicious mixed into pasta, or served as a dip, or even on toast.

You will need

• 4 cups small broccoli florets
• 1 cup fresh basil leaves
• ½ cup pine nuts
• ¼ bulb garlic
• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tsp black pepper, coarse ground
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes
• ½ tsp MSG or 1 tsp low-sodium salt

Method

(we suggest you read everything at least once before doing anything)

1) Steam the broccoli for 3–5 minutes. Allow to cool.

2) Blend the pine nuts, garlic, lemon juice, and nutritional yeast.

3) Add the broccoli, basil, olive oil, black pepper, red pepper, and MSG or salt, and blend in the food processor again until well-combined.

4) Serve:

Enjoy!

Want to learn more?

For those interested in some of the science of what we have going on today:

• Broccoli vs Cauliflower – Which is Healthier?
• Level-Up Your Fiber Intake! (Without Difficulty Or Discomfort)
• Herbs for (Evidence-Based) Health & Healing ← Basil features here! It’s easy to think that medicinal herbs have to be some kind of arcane obscurity, but it’s often not so.
• Our Top 5 Spices: How Much Is Enough For Benefits? ← Black pepper, red pepper, and garlic all feature here
• All About Olive Oil: Is “Extra Virgin” Worth It?
• Monosodium Glutamate: Sinless Flavor-Enhancer Or Terrible Health Risk?

Take care!