Tag: sun-dried tomato spread

This walnut and sun-dried tomato spread is packed with flavour, and is an excellent vegetarian option. It can be made vegan if you use a non-dairy Parmesan option.

I’ve made this quite a few times to spread on baguette, and this time I think I figured out my one problem with it. I found it difficult to get the right consistency when I followed the instructions that called for the use of a food processor; it ended up being a little bit too paste-like when I did this. So this time I used a mortar and pestle to crush the walnuts, and then just mixed everything else in. I like that there are still small chunks of walnut, but they get softened by the oil and sun-dried tomatoes.

This recipe is from the amazing Smitten Kitchen website. This is one of my go-to sites when I’m not sure what to make for dinner. Check it out! She also has a few cookbooks that are winners!

Aside from the method of breaking up the walnuts, I use a lot less oil in my recipe, and I halved the amounts so it would be good for two people. I also “eyeball it” and take into account personal preferences when it comes to amounts for parmesan, garlic, and salt.

A note on the walnut toasting: I found that the one time I used smaller pieces of walnut, with some larger ones mixed in, the smaller pieces were over-toasted. I use walnut halves, and prefer to just toast gently in a frying pan on low heat on the stove top. It works well in the oven too.

What you need:

• 1/2 cup walnut halves, toasted and cooled
• 1-2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 to 1 small garlic clove, minced
• leaves from 1-2 fresh sprigs of thyme (if you have to use dried thyme, just use a small amount, as it can be overwhelming)
• Red pepper flakes, to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon sherry or red wine vinegar 
• a drizzle or two of olive oil
• 1 tablespoon minced sun-dried tomatoes (oil packed) 
• Salt, to taste

What you do:

1. Place the cooled, toasted walnuts in a bowl or mortar and use a pestle to break them up. If you don’t have a mortar and pestle, you can use a wooden spoon to do the job.
2. Add the Parmesan, minced garlic, thyme, pepper flakes, and vinegar to the bowl. Combine these ingredients.
3. Add the vinegar, olive oil, tomatoes, and salt, then mix them in. Taste and add anything you think it needs.
4. Enjoy spread on some lovely fresh baguette!