Nowadays we see cauliflower everything, pizza crust, rice, and even milk. Cauliflower is all the rage but what many people don't see is the delectable taste and nutrients of carrot tops. Carrot tops aren't sold separately at grocery stores and are hard to find if you don't grow carrots yourself. Carrot tops make delicious pesto once blended with some olive oil and garlic. Carrot tops are also high chlorophyll content that may help heal skin and rid the body of toxins. They are high in potassium and help keep your blood pressure levels in control. They have detoxifying effects and are excellent for your kidneys. They are rich in vitamin K as well. Carrot tops are dense in nutrients and are just delicious. Here is a pesto recipe that is just to die for!
Ingredients:
1 clove garlic chopped 2 tbsp freshly-squeezed lemon juice (about 1/2 of a lemon) 1 tsp fresh lemon zest (about 1/2 of a lemon) carrot tops from 1 large or 2 smaller bunches of carrots (yields 1 cup blanched) 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves 4 green onions fresh green parts only 1/2 cup raw walnuts (optional) 3 tbsp olive oil salt and pepper to taste
To Prepare:
To blanch the carrot tops: remove thick stem pieces. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Prepare a large bowl with ice cubes and cold water in it. Once boiling, add the carrot tops to the pot. Stir occasionally, cooking for about 3 minutes or until bright green and tender. Immediately remove from the pot, drain the hot water, and add the carrot tops to the ice cube bowl to stop the cooking process. Drain the carrot tops, wring out excess liquid, and spread them on a plate to dry while you do the remaining recipe prep. Add all of the ingredients from garlic through walnuts (if using) to the food processor. Blend until a chunky paste forms with small bits of carrot tops. Depending on the size of your food processor, you may need to stop frequently to scrape down the sides. Add the olive oil a tablespoon at a time until combined. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and more lemon juice if desired. To use as a pasta sauce, cook your pasta in salted water according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta cooking water, drain the pasta, and return it to the pot. Add the reserved cooking water and carrot top pesto, stir to combine, and cook over low heat until warmed. Serve right away. Otherwise, once cooled to room temperature, store the pesto in the fridge in an airtight container for several days. The bright green color may fade to a slightly darker green, and this is totally normal.
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