Recipe: Black Olive and Artichoke Pesto

Ingredients

2 cans artichokes (in water & quartered)
1 Lemon (zested & juiced)
2 oz walnuts (toasted)
1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
1/4 cup Flat leaf parsley
3 cloves garlic
2 cups black olives (divided)
1/3 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes (halved)
16 oz pkg. Orzo Pasta
Salt and Pepper

Directions

1.    Cook Pasta according to directions and reserve 1 cup pasta water.

2.    In Food Processor add 1 1/2 cans artichokes, lemon zest, lemon juice, cheese, parsley, oil, garlic, 1 1/2 cups olives, salt, and pepper and pulse to sauce consistency. 

3.    Add sauce and 1/2 can artichokes to hot pasta and toss if needed spoon in some pasta water to thin out sauce.

4.    Top with tomatoes, 1/2 cup olives (halved), and some extra cheese.