Nettle-Walnut Pesto Crostini

ingredients

• 3/4 cup walnut halves
• 1/2 cup pine nuts
• 1 (15- to 17 inch-long) baguette, cut into 0.5 inch slices
• 16 cloves or 1 large head garlic
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 quart spring nettles*
• 3 cups loosely packed arugula leaves
• 1 1/2 quarts loosely packed fresh basil leaves (about 1 1/2 bunches)
• 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 cups finely grated parmesan cheese
•  ,
• *If nettles are unavailable, use additional arugula (1 3/4 quarts total).

directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In shallow baking pan, toss together walnuts and pine nuts, then place in oven, stirring occasionally, and bake until golden, about 8 minutes. Cool completely.

Arrange baguette slices on large baking sheet and bake until golden, 11 minutes.

With food processor running, drop in whole garlic cloves. Process until finely chopped, then stop motor and add cooled nuts, salt, pepper, nettles, arugula, and basil. Process until finely chopped. With motor running, add oil and process until incorporated. Fold in grated cheese.

Spread dollop of pesto on each baguette slice and serve with Chef Ryan Hardy's artichoke and green garlic soup.