Walnut Pesto
Jun 10, 2022
This walnut pesto is delicious and so easy to make! It uses walnuts which are cheaper and easier to find than pine nuts. I put this on pasta, pizza, rice, and more!
Basil
I recommend using Genovese or Sweet Basil for this recipe, it is the most common type of basil you can get. If you don't have enough Genovese or Sweet Basil for the recipe, you can add in some spinach or Thai Basil. The flavor will be different, but still delicious!
Walnuts
This pesto recipe uses walnuts instead of pine nuts. To maximize the flavor of the walnuts, lightly toast them in a pan with a little cooking oil till golden brown. This will bring a different depth of flavor into your pesto than using plain raw walnuts.
Walnut Pesto
Serves 4
Total Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1/3 C. Walnuts
- 1/3 C. Parmesan Cheese, grated
- 2 C. Fresh Basil
- 3 Garlic Cloves
- 1/3 C. Olive Oil*
- 2 T. Lemon Juice
- Salt to taste
Instructions:
- In a medium frying pan, add a drizzle of cooking oil and the walnuts. Cook on medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes or until the walnuts are golden brown.
- Place all the ingredients into a blender (I use a blender cup) and blend till smooth.
- Add to pasta, pizza, sandwiches, etc. and enjoy!
Notes:
*Substitute 1-2 T. of the olive oil for your favorite chili oil. I use my chili crisp oil, recipe found in this blog.
Avocado oil, canola oil, or any neutral oil can be used in place of the olive oil.