Prep Time: 04 Hours 15 Minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Servings: 3-4 Servings

Cashew based pesto is a creamy, pungent dip. Uplifts the flavour of any salad. Acts as a lovely dip, for parties ...serve it with simple veggie sticks such as cucumber, red & yellow capsicum… even carrots and lightly steamed french beans when winter sets in. You can use Thai Basil leaves if available. The one we have used is the Indian Basil (Also called the Ram Tulsi or Sweet Basil). This is not your regular tulsi, but somewhere a cross between Thai Basil and Tulsi. Indian Basil, is more pungent, and has a sharper flavour.Worry not if you cannot find the basil, just make a plain cashew dip then and add any other herb of choice!If you have forgotten to soak the cashews, you can use regular unsoaked cashews too - soaking makes it more creamy in texture

Ingredients

• Cashews: ½ cup (Soaked for 4 hours)
• Water: 1 cup (or more for desired consistency)
• Lemon Juice: 1- 2 lemons (per taste)
• Sendha namak: as per taste
• Peppercorns: 5-6 (whole) or Pepper powder to taste
• Garlic: 4-5 cloves – finely chopped (more if you like the garlicky taste)
• Green chillies – 2 – chopped (optional)

HERBS ADDITIONS

• Herbs of choice (optional) – Sweet Basil (or Indian Ram Tulsi)

Method

• Wash cashews well.
• Soak in ample water for 4 hours (If short on time 2 hours soaking is good too).
• Discard the water; rinse the cashews well.
• Add all the ingredients in a blender and grind well.
• Add some water to get a thick paste like consistency (Don’t overdo the water!).
• Taste to balance the lemon and salt (Keep it more sour).
• Keep in fridge - Will taste better; cheese like with time.

Good to use for 2-3 days when kept in fridge.

It may get slightly thick and even bland on storage, so you can add some water just before use. Taste test for lemon and salt.

Eating guide

Food group: Nuts
Goes with any food group (except fruits). Can be easily consumed with meals. Nut based dips are great way to add more bodybuilding foods in kids meal.
Incorporate nuts on regular basis, and say bye-bye to refined oil.

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