Spicy Cashew and Pesto Sauce

This spicy cashew and pesto sauce is a quick and easy way to add flavor to your favorite dishes. The combination of toasted cashews, fresh herbs, and sun-dried tomatoes creates a complex and flavorful sauce that is perfect for pasta, grilled chicken, or fish. It's also a great way to use up leftover herbs from your garden.

This recipe was inspired by a trip to Italy, where I had the pleasure of sampling some of the most amazing pesto sauces I've ever tasted. I was particularly impressed by a sauce that was made with toasted cashews, which gave it a nutty and slightly spicy flavor. I decided to recreate the sauce at home, and the results were even better than I had hoped for. The sauce is easy to make and can be used in a variety of dishes. It's the perfect way to add a touch of Italian flavor to your next meal.

Prep time: 10 | Cook time: 5 | Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup raw cashews
• 1 cup packed fresh basil leaves
• 1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

1. In a small skillet place the cashews over medium heat.
2. Toast, stirring occasionally, until fragrant and light golden brown, about 5 minutes. Let cool.
3. Meanwhile, combine the basil, parsley, olive oil, lemon juice, sun-dried tomatoes in a blender and season with salt and black pepper
4. Add the cooled cashews and blend until smooth, for about 1 minute.

Why It Works

• The combination of toasted cashews, fresh herbs, and sun-dried tomatoes creates a complex and flavorful sauce.
• The toasted cashews give the sauce a nutty and slightly spicy flavor.
• The fresh herbs add a bright and herbaceous flavor to the sauce.
• The sun-dried tomatoes add a sweet and tangy flavor to the sauce.
• The sauce is easy to make and can be used in a variety of dishes.