This is the perfect opportunity to share with you one of the delicious recipes I created for our “Outrageously Raw” oils and food event in Brisbane. Your taste buds will be in heaven!

A 2.5 minute Coriander, Chilli & Lemon Myrtle Pesto!

I love pesto, and a couple of weeks ago I had the inspiration to add a drop of Young Living’s Lemon Myrtle oil to the mix.

“This is soooooo delicious! The Lemon Myrtle oil comes as a wonderful surprise right at the end….it’s subtle, and will delight your taste buds!”

Try a dollop on avocado & toast, and on top of salads, grilled vegetables, and pasta. Once I have all the ingredients ready, this takes me 2.5 minutes to make in a good quality blender like a Thermomix®. Given my busy lifestyle, this is perfect. 

• 45g Pine nuts
• 5 whole raw Macadamia nuts (or 10 halves)
• 1 small clove of garlic
• 1 large red chilli (the non-hot variety), with seeds removed
• 80g fresh coriander
• 30g fresh dill
• 1/8th teaspoon of salt
• 100ml/g extra virgin olive oil (or can use a combination of V6 oil with Olive oil)
• 1 drop Young Living Lemon Myrtle oil

Blend the pine nuts, macadamia nuts, garlic and chili at high speed in your blender or food processor. Add remaining ingredients and blend until desired consistency is reached. If using a Thermomix, blend at speed 7 for 30 seconds for a smooth texture. Season with additional salt, pepper and oil if desired. Serve immediately, or cover and store in a glass jar in fridge.

All about Lemon Myrtle Oil

Lemon Myrtle oil comes from the leaves and aerial parts of the Australian Native tree, Backhousia citriodora, which grows in Central and South East Queensland’s subtropical rainforest areas

This tree is traditional “bush food” for the Indigenous Australians. The oil tastes a lot like lemon – in fact, enthusiasts describe it as “more lemon than lemon”, so it’s not surprising that it can be used in milk-based foods in place of lemon juice, because it won’t curdle the way that lemon will.

Its beautiful aroma makes the essential oil a valued oil in perfumery, as well as in cleaning products such as soaps, shampoos and lotions.

Lemon Myrtle oil is the highest natural source of Citral, at 90 to 98%, compared to only 3 to 10% Citral in Lemon oil. 

This makes it an excellent oil to use in your diffuser as an air purifier. Do your own research into the benefits of Citral – it’s fascinating.

Scientists have even discovered (1) that Citral reduces energy dissipation (ie. helps retain energy), and can be used to help maintain a healthy weight, even when the diet is designed towards weight gain. Interesting!

1. Modak, T, et al. “Effects of citral, a naturally occurring antiadipogenic molecule, on an energy-intense diet model of obesity.” Indian Journal of Pharmacology. 2011 May-Jun; 43(3):300-305.

Other uses of Lemon Myrtle Oil

Being one of Young Living’s culinary oils, it can also be used in vinaigrettes, salad dressings, sorbets, cheeses, ice cream, and as flavouring in dishes that would normally use lemon oil. In fact, during the Second World War it was used as a flavouring in soft drinks! It uplifts moods and emotions, so it brightens any gloomy day. I love how Mark Webb describes it in his book, Bush Sense. He writes:

The best description I can give for my first impression of Lemon Myrtle is WOW…what a bright, happy essential oil. The fresh lemon scent really clears out the cobwebs of the mind, although a little goes a long way.

Personally, I love putting a drop on my chest as a perfume, and I rub tired muscles with a mixture of Lemon Myrtle oil and Idaho Balsam Fir oil (that tip comes from Tom Woloshyn….thanks Tom!).

Caution: Because of its high citral content, Lemon Myrtle oil can be mildly irritating to sensitive skin, so apply V6 or any other good vegetable oil over the top if you experience any irritation.

Make your own All-Purpose Household Spray

OK, you remember I said that Lemon Myrtle oil is very purifying? Try this wonderful mix for cleaning your benches….I’m sure you will love it as much as I do!

In a 500ml spray bottle, add 1 tablespoon of Thieves Household Cleaner and 6 drops each of Lemon Myrtle, Lavender and Orange oil. Top up with water.

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