Learn to craft authentic pesto at Bear Creek’s cooking class

MARSHALL, Texas (KTAL/KMSS) — If your meals get boring and repetitive or you need something to accent your cooking, a Marshall business may have the solution.

Bear Creek Smokehouse is hosting a pesto-making class. Pesto originates from the Genoa region of Italy. Its name is derived from the past tense of the Genoese verb “pestare,” meaning to crush.

Pesto is a sauce typically made by crushing pine nuts, basil leaves, garlic, olive oil, and parmesan cheese together. Pesto can be used to complement pasta, sandwiches, potatoes, as a spread, and in many other applications.

Many substitutions have become common. Almonds or walnuts are often used as a substitute for the more expensive pine nuts. Basil is sometimes replaced with spinach, kale, or arugula. More adventurous cooks use avocados, broccoli, or anything else green.

In the Bear Creek class, participants learn about the various herbs used in making organic pesto, how to cultivate them, and leave with small samples of pesto. The class is scheduled for Friday, July 25, at 6:30 p.m. Food and drinks will be provided by Bear Creek.