Creamy Basil Pesto

Name: Creamy Basil Pesto
Yield: makes 1 3/4 cups (7 servings)
Ingredients: 4 large garlic cloves, coarsely chopped; 1 cup reduced-fat sour cream, such as Breakstone’s; 2 cups packed fresh basil leaves; 1/3 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley; 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper; 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese; 2 tablespoons chopped toasted pine nuts; Salt and freshly ground black pepper

December 9, 2011

Typical pesto can be more than 50 percent pure fat, and even though a little goes a long way, that’s just too many calories. This is a re-invention of the classic pesto alla genovese. The garlic, pine nuts, basil, and Parmigiano-Reggiano are all still there, but low-fat sour cream stands in for the olive oil. It may not be 100 percent authentic, but you’ll love what it does for your dress size.

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