Before I had sorrel in my yard, I used to skip over any reference to it in a recipe. If I didn’t have it, and couldn’t find it at the market, why torture myself? Then a friend gave me a plant, and I kicked myself for not planting it earlier. It is extremely easy to grow and winters over (at least in Portland); it’s a lazy gardener’s friend.

I love the lemony tang it brings to salads, fritattas, soups, and sauces. This pesto is delicious tossed with pasta or slathered on a sandwich.

If you don’t have a sorrel source, feel free to substitute arugula in this recipe and add more lemon juice to taste.

Steps

1. Toast the pistachios on a baking sheet for 7 minutes at 400 degrees. Set aside to cool.
2. Wash and thoroughly dry the sorrel and spinach leaves.
3. In the bowl of a food processor, combine the pistachios, sorrel, spinach, and garlic. Pulse until everything is chopped into little bits. Add the olive oil in a slow, steady stream while the motor continues to run. Turn the motor off once all the olive oil is incorporated.
4. Add the grated cheese, a couple of grinds of black pepper, and the lemon juice. Process briefly to combine, taste for salt, and season accordingly.
5. Scrape the pesto into a bowl or container. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.