Summer Solstice & Spicy Nasturtium Pesto
Summer Solstice is a threshold between the rising light of spring, and the march from summer towards autumn again. The change is gracious, almost imperceptibly, after the sun reaches its peak. In the garden, this moment is marked by verdant opportunity. Herbs love this warmth just as much as I do. The vegetables are flowering, and the spaces between fill with the unexpected and abundant presence of volunteers. One of my favorites - and most abundant - is nasturtium.
I've noticed a great many sprouting in my front garden bed, surrounding the tomatoes at the moment. I don't have the heart to pull them, so I've had to get creative with how they're used. Not the worst homework, honestly. Nasturtium is a charmer, like a child playing hide and seek - a little hint here and there, and suddenly tumbling out, brightly and loudly all at once. It seems determined to remind us that nourishment can and should be beautiful, playful, and free.
Though often grown as an ornamental flower, nasturtium has a long history as both food and traditional herbal medicine. Rich in vitamin C and naturally occurring mustard oils, it has been valued by herbalists for many a generation as a supportive plant for immune support, and respiratory health. Its lilypad leaves and fiery flowers carry a high toned peppery flavor, somewhat reminiscent of arugula or watercress. It shares a gentle heat that awakens the senses, and pairs beautifully with the richness of olive oil and nuts. Perhaps this is why nasturtium feels like such a perfect companion for the Summer Solstice. Its leaves are shaped like little green suns, broad and round, gathering every bit of available light. Its blossoms arrive in shades of gold, amber, and flame, carrying the colors of the season itself. Even its flavor speaks the language of midsummer, bright, warming, peppery, and alive.
There is something humble about nasturtium, too. It asks very little of the gardener. It volunteers freely, softens bare soil, feeds pollinators, nourishes the body, and brightens the landscape with almost reckless generosity. At the height of the year, when the sun gives more than at any other time, nasturtium seems to mirror that same spirit of abundance. It is a plant made not only to receive the light, but to share it.
I'm often drawn to plants that seem capable of belonging to more than one landscape. Though nasturtium is native to South America, it thrives in Mediterranean climates and flourishes in Pacific Northwest summers. It feels like a bridge between worlds - a plant equally at home beneath a coastal fog or a bright summer sun. A plant I can relate to.
At this time of year, when the garden offers more than can be reasonably snacked on, those leaves can be transformed into a vibrant and deeply green pesto! Herbaceous, peppery, slightly citrusy and just the right amount of spice from the garlic and nasturtium itself. A perfect, simple Solstice dish. It is wonderful spooned over roasted vegetables, tossed with pasta, spread onto fresh bread, or enjoyed atop eggs served sunnyside up. This version is naturally dairy-free, though a handful of grated Parmesan may be added if desired.
Summer Solstice Nasturtium Pesto
Ingredients:
3 - 4 packed cups fresh nasturtium leaves
2 - 3 cloves garlic
1/3 cup toasted pine nuts
Juice of 1 lemon
1/2 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
Freshly ground black pepper
1/3 - 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
Instructions:
- Gather fresh nasturtium leaves from the garden.
- Soak the leaves in warm water with a generous pinch of sea salt for several minutes to cleanse and soften.
- Rinse and drain thoroughly, or spin dry.
- Add the nasturtium leaves, garlic, toasted pine nuts, lemon juice, sea salt, and pepper to a food processor or blender.
- Pulse until the mixture begins to fully break down.
- Slowly drizzle in olive oil until the pesto reaches your preferred consistency (I love a richly oily pesto).
- Taste and adjust as needed.
Store in a sealed jar in the refrigerator and enjoy within several days, or freeze to enjoy the tastes of summer in the winter months.
The Summer Solstice reminds us that abundance is not only something to harvest, but something to participate in, and to share. We gather what is offered, transform it with our hands, and share it with those we love.
This season, may you find a little medicine in your garden, a little nourishment in your kitchen, and a little wonder in the longest light of the year. ☀
