There is a mountain resort village in Lebanon where people go in the wintertime to ski. I was there one summer as a guest of my dad’s favorite cousin, Tante Marcelle. I owe her my life, in fact, because she is the one who introduced my mom to my dad.
So, Tante Marcelle, who had been raised in Marseille, France, made this spaghetti , with greens from the garden and Lebanese pine nuts from the pine trees nearby. I still remember the delight I felt when I tasted this dish. It was a hot and dry summer and it was the perfect thing to eat.
It is hot these days in Dallas, and I wanted this same dish.
Is that what food is about? (to relive memories?)
INGREDIENTS:
- 8 ounces of spaghetti
- 2 ounces of radish greens (can replace with arugula)
- 2 ounces of pine nuts
- 4 ounces of olive oil
- 4 ounces of feta cheese
- 2 ounces of grated parmesan cheese
- salt, to taste
- 2 cloves of garlic, mashed with a pinch of salt
METHOD:
- Clean the radishes thoroughly; it will take several changes of water for the greens to lose all their dirt; chop the greens coarsely and set aside.
- In a food processor bowl, place the pine nuts (or almonds) and the mashed garlic; process until the nuts are chopped fine and add the radish greens; process and add the olive oil gradually until the mixture is pasty; add the cheese at the end; taste and adjust seasoning.
- Cook the spaghetti and toss with the sauce. Serve.
Recipe for the radish greens pesto adapted from C’est Moi Qui l’ait Fait.
60 Comments
radish green pesto looks delicious…this must be awesome with spaghetti…yum!
The best dishes are usually simple and bursting with memories… Those are the kind of foods I enjoy most. Your pasta looks mouth watering. I will have it for lunch tomorrow! (quick question: comments closed! does that mean we can’t write a comment? I’ve been seeing that lately)
Alright…I don’t know if I’m the only one that didn’t know this about radish leaves, but I’m starting to think I’ve been deprived;)
Joumana, you have an uncanny way of educating me about using so many different parts of a variety of foods. I certainly had no idea that I was wasting those beautiful radish leaves when all along, I could have been making Pesto with it!!!
Thank you so much for this great idea. I’m always looking for new ways to make pesto.
Ciao for now and flavourful wishes, Claudia
Now you have really stunned me. I cannot imagine the taste of radish greens. I imagine them as so incredibly bitter. And your pasta is green. I assume that is from the pesto – and then is there more pesto in the centre just for the photo? Did you ever see pine nuts growing? I love them in so many things. They are so buttery and nutty and just a pleasure to taste.
Valerie
A gorgeous and a unique dish…never heard of nor tried radish greens. I’m game for a go at this pesto.
I would never have thought of using radish greens but I can imagine how nice it would taste pine nuts. Wow access to free pine nuts! It is a perfect hot day dish.
I always use the radish tops in my salad. Just made a batch of radish tops kimchi. Thanks for another way of using the delicious greens!
This sounds great! I haven’t had radish greens in a looong time – but their spicy flavor sounds perfect for pesto!
I didn’t know that radish green were so tasty.
Mimi
this is such an interesting pesto…I just have to give it a try!
Hello,
First time to ur beautiful blog….m an absolute fan of Lebanese cuisine…love to explore more and more.
Tis spagetti is soo good..never thought of ever using raddishes…jotted in my dairy.
Thks for sharing dear..between a fella food blogger from down under.
Will be bk…
Cheers,
Chetana
http://www.myrecipegalore.blogspot.com
Pesto made of radish greens..now thats something new and different but sounds great..love the colour and the spaghetti…
Reliving memories – you’re absolutely right, Joumana. That IS the reason for food. I love this recipe!!! I’ve never used radish greens for anything and am excited to try this.
Food always connects with memories in my mind. I use food to commemorate loved ones that are gone. This dish is very summery.
It looks absolutely wonderful, and its a great dish if you are worried about what to feed a vegetarian (there’s always one lol).
*kisses* HH
feels like to taste some from that plate…..Also liked the sauce..
très bonne idée, j’aime beaucoup cette recette, merci pour le partage, bisou joumana
Interesting! I have had pesto with rocket (arugula) but not radish greens. I wonder what it tastes like! I should just make it
Yes Joumana, all recipes have some fond family remembrance attached to them. We turn to food to relive our childhood happy memories, and transports us there, we crave them especially when we are feeling overwhelmed and stressed out, to overcome our feelings.
I will definitely try this recipe with radish greens, the grassy green flavor. This will be very useful addition to my sauce repertoire.
Wat a fabulous use of raddish greens, thanks for sharing..
oh my! I’m craving some freshly-made pesto now!
Raddish greens are delicious! That pesto must have a wonderful flavor!
Cheers,
Rosa
Beautiful pesto. I would love to make. I need to get the feta cheese first. Thanks for sharing.
what an interesting type of pesto! it makes for a beautiful dish, joumana–bravo!
There is a French soup made with radish greens that I read about… very popular during WWII when things were scarce… I must try this recipe because it is just sinful to throw all those greens away!!!
Joumana – Basil pesto pasta is one of my favorite dishes, and arugula perhaps my favorite bitter green…why haven’t I thought to combine the two before? Love your recipe for an arugula pesto, and will be making some this weekend for sure! Thanks – S
Hi Joumana,
What an interesting idea. I’ve never eaten radish greens but if I can get them, I’ll give this a go.
Brian
i love pesto – and this looks perfect!
My parents are growing radishes at the moment… I’m definitely going to recommend they try this dish!
Robynx
PS: I think food is ALL about memories – making them and recalling them.
Good to know that I am not the only one who uses the radish greens. Although I had never thought of pesto. You are clever- always keep me coming back to see what you thought of next.
I have never actually used radish greens – I always throw them away. But my frugal side really hates tossing anything that could possible be eadible, so this is fantastic! I have been getting radishes like crazy in my CSA share, so this week I will be making radish greens pesto!
And Joumana… I must tell you… I made your amazing tahini nutella. Words can’t even begin to describe!!! I have so many of your recipes piled up in my ‘to make’ list, but that one went directly to the top. However, I think radish greens pesto is next!
What a lovely pasta. I’ve never used radish greens but am certainly willing to give them a try. You asked about substituting pork for the veal. Turkey would be a better choice. I hope you are having a great day. Blessings…Mary
I love pesto in pasta. What a brilliant idea. I love making pestos out of weird greens, so I’ll definitely be trying this soon!
What a delicious use of raddish greens! I am gonna make this
Thanks for this wonderful recipe, Jou 
I tend to think that pasta is too heavy for summer….but this is just light and green and refreshing! Definitely won’t weigh me down!
I haven’t ever used radish greens. It’s a great way to use more of the plant, especially from a home garden. I can’t wait to try them.
You really have some of the most inventive pesto recipes. I love dishes that are infused with memory. They are the best kinds!
Just the color alone already had me Joumana. You are such a fantastic cook.
What a unique pesto with radish greens and feta! It sounds amazing with spaghetti!
le pesto de radis verts est une bonne idée ça doit être savoureux, a tester
j’aime beaucoup
bonne fin de journée
Yes! And to make new ones
Food is amazing, isn’t it? It can bring back such wonderful memories and stories.
When I think of bourekas, it brings back such happy memories from my youth. You can almost taste the ingredients in those memories.
Melissa
Oh Joumana, I wish I had seen this post the other day. I had some pretty radishes, and I accidentally let the greens go bad (sigh). I’m usually really good about using beet greens and such, but I didn’t know what to do with them. Ended up waiting to long to figure it out-this would have been wonderful!
I didn’t know the greens from the cherry radish is eatable..:-(((( I always threw them away..how stupid was that!
Thank you for sharing such a beautiful pesto recipe.
Angie
i love love love aubergines, and this recipe is soooo yummy, cant wait to try it, cheers from london
yep! me again, i meant to comment the aubergine post, but sice I’m here, I have to tell you that your greens pesto is and looks fantastic, cheers!
Oh what a healthy way to enjoy pasta. yum!
Radish greens. Great idea. I have to try this one.
Guess who got a big fresh bunch of radishes in her CSA box today? Me! I will have to try this!
Reliving memories through food is the best way to relive memories because so many of our senses are involved. I’m glad you shared this with us since I always wonder what to do with radish greens when I buy a bunch of radishes!
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