Crepes with pesto

Crepes with pesto are a dish that blends the French tradition of crepes with the Italian flavor of Genoese pesto. Here’s how to prepare them:

Ingredients

• 125 g of all-purpose flour
• 250 ml of milk
• 2 eggs
• A pinch of salt
• 30 g of melted butter (plus a little for greasing the pan)
• Genoese pesto (to taste, but about 200 g should suffice)
• 50 g of grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
• Salt and pepper as needed

For the Genoese pesto (if you want to make it from scratch):

• 1 bunch of fresh basil
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 30 g of pine nuts
• 60 g of grated Parmesan cheese
• 20 g of grated Pecorino Sardo cheese
• Extra virgin olive oil (about 100 ml)
• Salt as needed

Preparation

1. Start with the batter for the crepes. In a bowl, sift the flour and add a pinch of salt.
2. Make a well in the center and add the eggs, start mixing with a whisk, gradually adding the milk to avoid lumps.
3. When the mixture becomes smooth, incorporate the melted butter. Let the batter rest for at least 30 minutes.
4. In the meantime, prepare the Genoese pesto. Wash the basil leaves and gently pat them dry with kitchen paper. In a mortar or blender, start processing the garlic with a pinch of salt, add the pine nuts and then the basil leaves, crushing and adding the oil in a stream until you obtain a homogeneous cream. Finally, incorporate the grated cheeses and adjust for salt.
5. Heat a non-stick pan lightly greased with butter, pour in a ladleful of batter and rotate the pan to spread the mixture evenly.
6. Cook the crepe on both sides until golden, then transfer it to a plate and proceed in the same way with the remaining batter.
7. Spread each crepe with Genoese pesto and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.
8. Fold the crepes in half and then in half again to form a fan shape or roll them up into a cylinder.
9. Serve immediately, possibly accompanied by a fresh salad or grilled vegetables for a light and aromatic meal.

Curiosity

Crepes are an extremely versatile dish that can be filled with various ingredients, sweet or savory. The pairing with pesto is an example of how Italian culinary tradition can enrich dishes from other cultures, creating delicious and original combinations.