Anti-Flame Pesto is a vibrant, nutrient-dense herb spread that combines refreshing parsley, tangy lemon juice, and the natural goodness of chia or linseed. While it isn’t a traditional basil-based pesto, this recipe is designed with anti-inflammatory properties in mind, offering a healthy, delicious way to enhance your meals. Its zesty, herbal flavour makes it a versatile addition to salads, sandwiches, and pasta or as a dip for vegetables and crackers.
Health Benefits
- Anti-Inflammatory Powerhouse: Parsley is rich in antioxidants like vitamin C and flavonoids, which neutralize harmful free radicals and reduce inflammation in the body. Combined with chia or linseed, which are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, this pesto helps to combat chronic inflammation and promote overall health.
- Heart Health Support: The omega-3 fatty acids in chia and linseed are known for improving heart health by lowering blood pressure, reducing cholesterol levels, and supporting healthy blood flow.
- Digestive Aid: Parsley is packed with dietary fiber, which aids digestion and supports gut health. The inclusion of chia or linseed adds additional fiber for smooth digestion and prolonged feelings of satiety.
- Detoxifying Properties: Lemon juice not only adds a vibrant tang to the pesto but also supports the liver’s natural detoxification processes. Parsley further contributes with its natural diuretic properties, promoting kidney health by flushing out toxins.
- Bone Health: Parsley contains calcium, vitamin K, and magnesium, crucial nutrients for maintaining strong, healthy bones.
- Nutritional Boost: This pesto is vegan, gluten-free, and packed with essential nutrients like vitamin A, potassium, iron, and chlorophyll, promoting energy, immune health, and healthy skin.
Enjoy with Your Meals
This Anti-Flame Pesto is perfect for adding a dose of health benefits to your everyday meals. Dollop it on roasted vegetables, mix it with quinoa or rice, spread it over avocado toast, or enjoy it as a dip with raw veggies. Packed with anti-inflammatory properties and immune-supporting nutrients, it’s a delicious way to take care of your body while savouring vibrant, fresh flavours!
- No parsley? Other greens or herbs can be used as a base or combined to bulk it out if you don’t have enough of any one green. Suggestions: spinach, basil, coriander, or rocket (monitor the amount of ‘bite’ you want). Experiment with seasonal greens and herbs so you can make some kind of pesto all year round.
- Pesto provides instant, raw, mega-greens when you’ve no time to cook, or you’ve not enough greens for meal-sized servings.
- This pesto is freezer-friendly. Store in small batches so it will thaw quickly.
- Pesto has an aura of luxury about it, but it will cost you practically nothing if you grow the parsley. It is very easy to grow – no green fingers needed!
Anti-Flamme Pesto
Anti-Flame Pesto is a flavorful herb spread or dip designed to help reduce inflammation in the body. While not a traditional basil pesto, its medicinal qualities and delicious taste make it a health-boosting twist on the classic!
Ingredients
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- ¼ cup water
- x3 tightly packed cups of curly parsley (leaves minus stems)
- Approx 1 tsp salt or miso paste
- 1 tbsp ground chia or linseed
- extra parsley, chia or water if needed
Instructions
- Juice the lemons and pour the juice and about half the water into a blender.
- Add one cup of parsley, and blend, then add the salt or miso and blend it in.
- Add another cup of parsley and blend. Add the rest, bit by bit, enough to keep the mix moving. Add the chia or linseed, blend. The pesto should be thick and moving slowly in the blender. Add a touch more water if the blender gags.
- Add another cup of parsley and blend. Add the rest, bit by bit, enough to keep the mix moving. Add the chia or linseed, blend. The pesto should be thick and moving slowly in the blender. Add a touch more water if the blender gags.
- Spread it on sandwiches, toast, or wafers. Nice on crackers with soups and salads. Stir it into pasta, scoop a dollop onto the dinner plate with mains, or serve as a dip. It keeps well, covered, in the fridge – the lemon juice ensures it stays looking fresh and green.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
