Lemon Balm Pesto Recipe

By Rose Swartz March 31, 2023 30 mins read 55 Views

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Lemon Balm Pesto Recipe

Written and photographed by Juliet Blankespoor

The following recipe is an excerpt from my debut book The Healing Garden: Crafting and Cultivating Herbal Remedies. It is a sneak preview of a chapter in this book. A copy can be purchased wherever books are sold. More information about the book and its bonuses can be found here.

My students used to pick one herb when I was running an herbal school in person. They would then give a presentation about its medicinal properties and a sample. Sometimes, they would even get a little bit of tea or a tincture. When I was told by a student that she would be making lemon balm pesto from scratch, I smiled encouragingly, despite my fears. This pesto was not for me. I'm a very adventurous eater. I have never been happier to eat crow.

On the day of her presentation I had to respectfully refrain from speaking for a few seconds so that others could have a go. This pesto was a favorite recipe of my team when we were recipe-testing my book.

When you try it, you'll be able to decide what to do with the pesto. To give you some ideas, I recommend smothering it with broiled fish or rotisserie poultry. You can serve it with pasta, sourdough bread or even on its own.

Lemon Balm Pesto Recipe

Lemon balm leaves should be picked earlier in the growing season, when they are still tender. Pesto can be made from the top leaves only later in the season. Before adding the leaves to the food processor, be sure to remove them from the fibrous stem. You can substitute 1/2 cup of nutritional yeast for the Parmesan if you don't like cheese. This recipe is included in The Healing Garden book. It also includes a detailed profile about the cultivation and harvesting of lemon balm as well as the medicinal uses of this herb.

Ingredients:

3 cups (115g) packed with fresh and tender lemon balm leaves ( Melissa Officinalis ).
1 cup shelled, roasted, and salted pistachios
1 Cup Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
3/4 Cup (60g) freshly grated Parmesan Cheese
2 Tablespoons of fresh lemon juice
Use 3 to 5 garlic cloves to flavor
To taste, add a few drops of sea salt.

Yield: 2 cups

Blend all ingredients in a food processor until smooth. Add salt to taste. Keep it in an airtight container up to one week. You can also freeze it for up to six month.

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Learn more about how to use lemon balm medicinally, and how to grow its green glory.

This pesto is a great medicinal food. Learn more about the uplifting medicinal properties of lemon balm. You can find out more about lemon balm's uplifting medicinal benefits in our Lemon Balm Article on my blog. This is an excerpt from my new book The Healing Garden : Cultivating, Handcrafting Herbal Remedies . Your copy can be purchased anywhere books are sold. Visit The Healing Garden Gateway to learn more about the book and the amazing bonuses it offers.

Meet the Green Mastermind Behind Blog Castanea

JULIET BLANKESPOOR, the creator, primary instructor and Creative Director of The Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine is an online school that serves thousands of students around the world. With a degree as a botanist and more than 30 years of teaching and writing experience in herbalism, medicine-making, and organic herb cultivation, she is a bonafide plant geek and professional matchmaker. Juliet's passion for medicinal herbs and herb gardening over her entire life has led to many botanical businesses, including a herbal nursery and farm-to-apothecary herbal product business.

Today, she channeled her botanical obsession through writing and photography. She has her own blog Castanea and her new book The Healing Garden: Cultivating & Handcrafting Herbal Remedies. Juliet lives with her family in Asheville North Carolina, in a house stuffed full of books and houseplants.

Are you interested in contributing?

(c) Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine, chestnutherbs.com. 2011-2022. It is strictly forbidden to use or duplicate this material without the express written permission of its author. Excerpts or links can be used provided that Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine is given full credit and chestnutherbs.com is referred to with the appropriate direction to the original content.

Do you want to learn more about medicinal herbs and how they are used?

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The first post Lemon Balm Pesto Recipe appeared on Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine.

Frequently Asked Questions

What herbs should you take daily?

Depending on your health and wellness needs, many herbs can be taken daily to help improve your overall health.

Popular herbs for daily consumption include ashwagandha, turmeric, ginger, holy basil, chamomile, lavender, peppermint, and cayenne pepper. Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb that can help the body resist stress and anxiety. Turmeric is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, while ginger has been shown to aid digestion and boost immunity. Holy basil may help with managing blood sugar levels, as well as providing a calming effect. Chamomile can promote relaxation, while lavender is used in aromatherapy for its calming properties. Peppermint can help aid digestion and reduce nausea, while cayenne pepper has antibacterial properties that may boost your immunity.

As always, you must consult your doctor before taking herbs daily to ensure they are safe for you and do not interact with any other medications or herbs you may be taking.

There is no shortage of information on what foods we should eat and how much exercise we should do. But when it comes to what supplements we should take, there is a dearth of knowledge.

This is because most of us aren’t sure which ones work or which are junk. So we go online and look up whatever we can find.

But often, these articles are written by companies trying to promote their products. Which means they're usually biased toward their product.

So instead of finding unbiased advice, we end up reading marketing hype.

This makes sense since marketers make more money selling stuff than doctors.

The medical industry isn’t even allowed to advertise directly to consumers anymore. The best way to learn about natural remedies is to read independent reviews.

This is where you'll find real users sharing their experiences with each supplement. These sites give you an honest opinion of whether or not a particular herb helps.

Users will often share their experience with a supplement after taking it. This gives you a good idea of its effectiveness and any side effects.

You can also check out forums dedicated to herbalism. Here you can ask questions and receive answers based on personal experience.

Of course, there are plenty of other ways to learn about herbs.

There are books, websites, blogs, videos, podcasts, and classes. All of them provide valuable information about natural remedies.

Which plant has antibiotic and wound-healing properties?

People often ask about plants that have medicinal uses. Some of these include aloe vera, eucalyptus, chamomile, and lavender. If you're wondering why there aren't any plants used for cleaning and disinfecting purposes, it's because most plants have toxic qualities.

The reason why we use herbs for medicine is that they contain compounds that stimulate our immune system. This means that they help us fight infections and heal wounds.

Some plants also have anti-inflammatory properties. These include ginger, turmeric, and mint.

Herbs such as basil, fennel, marigold, and oregano are great for cleansing the body.

There are even some plants that help prevent cancer. Research shows that black raspberries may reduce the chances of developing breast cancer. The same goes for broccoli. It can help prevent colon cancer.

Should You Use Herbs and Spices for Brain Health?

Herbs and spices have been used for centuries to improve brain health. Research shows that these natural remedies may help prevent dementia and Alzheimer's. Some herbs may even boost memory.

However, no scientific evidence proves that eating an herb-rich diet can keep your mind sharp. When it comes to improving cognitive function, there are more effective ways to do it.

One study found that older adults who took 1000 mg of vitamin B6 daily had fewer mental lapses than those taking placebo pills. Another study showed that drinking coffee could increase blood flow to the brain. Other studies suggest that exercise, socialization, and sleep improve brain health.

The bottom line is that herbs and spices probably won't make much difference to your overall health. But they might give you extra energy and focus, which can come in handy during the day.

What are the disadvantages of using herbs?

Herbs are a great way to keep your body healthy because they contain vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, enzymes, amino acids, phytonutrients, polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenes, essential oils, carotenoids, sterols, and sterolins. Some even contain cannabinoids.

But there are also lots of side effects associated with herbal remedies. For example, taking too much herb could cause liver damage or even death. Herbal supplements may interact with prescription drugs, which means that they might affect how well the drug works.

Some herbs can interfere with blood clotting, while others may increase bleeding when taken with anticoagulants (blood thinners).

There are also safety concerns for pregnant women and children.

The bottom line is that herbs aren't safe for everyone. If you're considering trying them out, do your homework. Look up each product's side effects and warnings and read reviews online.

Is it safe to eat raw garlic?

Raw garlic contains potent compounds that could cause stomach upset. Garlic should always be cooked before eating.

Garlic is one of the oldest known medicinal plants. It has been used since ancient times to treat various ailments.

Today, garlic is still commonly used for treating colds, coughs, and other respiratory infections. In addition, garlic can increase blood circulation, boost immunity, protect against cancer, lower cholesterol levels, prevent heart disease, and reduce stress.

Do not ingest large amounts of raw garlic to avoid possible health problems. It does not harm you if you consume small amounts regularly, however. This is especially true with young children who might accidentally swallow some.

Which spices from the kitchen are used to cure diseases?

There are more than 4000 medicinal plants that are widely distributed throughout the world. Some of these plants contain active compounds that may help treat various ailments.

In India alone, there are more than 1000 species of herbs that are used for medical purposes. This includes Ayurvedic medicine, Unani medicine, Siddha medicine, Homeopathic medicine, and Chinese medicine.

The most common ingredient found in these medicines is ginger. Ginger contains volatile oils that give it its aromatic flavor. These oils contain anti-inflammatory properties that make them useful against arthritis, fever, vomiting, and indigestion.

Ginger also helps relieve nausea and stomach cramps caused due to pregnancy. Pregnant women often consume ginger tea to reduce morning sickness. Ginger is also commonly used for cough and cold relief.

Another spice that is known to have medicinal value is turmeric. Turmeric contains curcumin which has been shown to inhibit tumor growth. This makes it an effective cancer treatment.

Turmeric is also considered to be very beneficial for joint health. It relieves inflammation and stiffness associated with rheumatoid arthritis. It is also believed to prevent osteoporosis.

Garlic, too, is another herb that is extensively used in traditional medicine. Its healing qualities include treating infections, asthma, heart disease, and diabetes and even reducing cholesterol levels. Garlic oil is also used to treat wounds and insect bites.

Garlic is a natural antibiotic that fights bacteria and viruses. The antibacterial property makes it ideal for treating respiratory tract infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia.

It is also helpful in preventing urinary tract infections.

Other spices like cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, black pepper, ginger, cayenne, mustard seeds, fennel, and coriander are also used to treat different illnesses.

Is basil good for kidneys?

The answer is yes. Basil is an excellent food for kidney health. It contains potassium which helps reduce high blood pressure. It also contains vitamin K, which is essential for bone strength. As well as this, it is rich in antioxidants which help protect against heart disease.

Basil is great for digestion too. It contains digestive enzymes that break down protein and carbohydrates. This makes it easier to absorb nutrients from your meals.

Basil is a wonderful addition to any diet. Try sprinkling some over pasta dishes, salads, soups, and sandwiches. Or add little stir-fried vegetables, chicken, fish, meat, and tofu.

It's delicious in pesto sauce and fresh in salad dressings. You'll find many recipes online where you can learn how to cook with basil.

Try making basil oil by adding a few drops of pure olive oil to a jar filled with chopped basil leaves. Let it steep overnight, and then strain out the leaves. Use the oil as a massage oil or rub it onto your skin.

It will leave your skin soft and smooth.

Statistics

The global herbs market is expected to reach more than $125 billion by the end of 2025.
Herbs are among the most popular and widely used medicinal remedies. According to a survey conducted by the National Institutes of Health, herbs were used by over 38% of adults in the United States.

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How To

How do I know if my herbs have been treated with pesticides?

If you see a pesticide label on your herbs, the plants were sprayed with chemicals before being sold to you.

These chemicals harm human health and could cause cancer or other serious illnesses.

Unfortunately, this practice has become common around the globe. Many countries allow farmers to spray their crops with pesticides without proper regulation.

In order not to harm themselves, consumers should always ask about the source of their produce. If it comes from a farmer near you, it’s safe to assume it was not treated with pesticides.

However, there are still ways to ensure that your herbs are free from harmful chemicals.

However, if you want to ensure that your herbs aren’t contaminated, you can purchase organic herbs directly from the farm.

This way, you won’t need to worry about the safety of your herbs. You can trust that they weren’t exposed to harmful chemicals.