Pesto Potato Salad

I had made a pesto from rocket and spinach a couple of days previous for a pasta dish, and still had half of the pesto leftover.  To make the pesto I’d used:

• 50g each of the rocket and basil which is a large handful of each

• approximately half a cup of freshly grated parmesan

• 2-3 tablespoons of pine nuts

• 1 or 2 teaspoons of garlic infused oil

• and enough olive oil to bring it all together as a thick bout pourable consistency

All the ingredients went into a blender, but a pestle and mortar would do the job too.  I usually have a taste and add more parmesan if it’s not quite salty enough or garlic oil if required.

To make the dressing for the potato salad I mixed my leftover pesto with some shop-bought mayonnaise (I prefer whole-egg) and thinned it all down with a little water.  Sometimes I find mayonnaise on its own a little sharp and add a small amount of sour cream, such as with a Cos coleslaw; it works for us but is completely optional.

When it came to the veggies I quartered and steamed small new potatoes until they were tender, then let them cool.  I dropped some green beans into boiling water just until they turned bright green and then quickly got them in iced water to stop them cooking further.  I cut the beans into bite-sized pieces and gently tossed them with the potatoes and dressing, before putting it all into a serving bowl.  Just to pretty things up a bit, I added a few halved grape tomatoes to the top of the salad.

I think this salad could go in a variety of directions, maybe make a traditional basil pesto, include roasted capsicum or perhaps pumpkin or sweet potato (stick to <cup per serve if mannitol is an issue for you).