Recipe:

Grilled Squash with Cilantro-Pecan Pesto

Email recipe | Print recipe | Post to Twitter | Post to Facebook

Rate this | Add your comment

Serves 4 to 6

This melt-in-your-mouth squash provides a colorful accompaniment to other grilled fare, and the cilantro-pecan pesto is a fun change from traditional basil pesto. Grilling the sauce mellows the garlic and cilantro, allowing the full flavor of the squash to shine through. Easy, quick and absolutely delicious. Ingredients with an asterisk (*) are available in the Whole Foods Market Family of Brands.

Ingredients

1/4 cup pine nuts
1/4 cup pecans
2 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 cup fresh packed cilantro, roughly chopped
1 tablespoon umeboshi or ume plum vinegar (or more to taste)
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil*
2 yellow crookneck squash
2 zucchini squash

Method

Ingredient option: If you would prefer to include Parmesan in the pesto and make this non-vegan, remove the umeboshi vinegar and replace with 1/2 cups of Parmesan cheese and salt to taste.

Toast pine nuts in a heavy skillet on medium heat until fragrant and golden brown. Repeat for pecans. Combine pine nuts, pecans, garlic, cilantro and ume vinegar in a food processor. Pulse until fine and well mixed. With food processor running, slowly add oil. Mix a few times by hand to thoroughly combine pesto.

Spray olive oil cooking spray or lightly rub olive oil onto grill grate to prevent sticking. Preheat grill to medium heat.

Cut squash lengthwise (about three pieces per squash). Make 3 or so hatch marks on cut sides of squash and rub pesto onto cut sides of squash. Grill squash for about 5 minutes on each side or until golden grill marks appear and squash is soft. Remove and serve with extra pesto on the side if desired.

Nutrition

Per serving (108g-wt.): 150 calories (130 from fat), 15g total fat, 1.5g saturated fat, 3g protein, 5g total carbohydrate (2g dietary fiber, 2g sugar), 0mg cholesterol, 0mg sodium

Tags: Budget, Entertaining, Gluten Free, Sugar Conscious, Vegan, Dairy Free, Low Sodium, Wheat Free, Vegetarian

Note: We've provided special diet and nutritional information for educational purposes. But remember — we're cooks, not doctors! You should follow the advice of your health-care provider. And since product formulations change, check product labels for the most recent ingredient information. See our Terms of Service.