Go Back
–+ servings
10-Minute Pistachio Pesto (No Pine Nuts!) – vegetarian recipe
Stav Kogan

10-Minute Pistachio Pesto (No Pine Nuts!)

Ready to ditch the jar for good? Once you see how ridiculously easy it is to whip up this vibrant, homemade pesto, you'll never look back. We're swapping traditional pine nuts for rich, buttery pistachios, creating a uniquely earthy and utterly addictive sauce that comes together
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 1 cup
Calories: 142

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups (40 g / 1.41 oz) loosely packed fresh basil leaves
  • 2 cups (40 g / 1.41 oz) loosely packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
  • 4 cloves garlic, peeled
  • ⅔ cup (80 g / 2.82 oz) shelled pistachios
  • ½ teaspoon (3 g / 0.11 oz) sea salt, or more to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon (0.5 g / 0.02 oz) ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml / 0.5 fl oz) fresh lemon juice
  • ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons / 150ml (5.1 fl oz) olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml / 1 fl oz) water, if needed
  • For a deeper, nuttier flavor, toast the pistachios in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes until fragrant before adding them to the food processor.
  • To keep your pesto vibrantly green, pour a thin layer of olive oil over the top before sealing the container. This creates a barrier against air and prevents oxidation.
  • Pesto freezes beautifully. Pour it into ice cube trays, freeze solid, then transfer the cubes to a freezer bag for perfect single-serving portions.
  • If you aren’t avoiding dairy, add ⅓ cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese along with the other in step 1 to take this pesto to the next level.

Method
 

  1. Directions
  2. Combine the basil, parsley, garlic, pistachios, sea salt, black pepper, and lemon juice in the bowl of a food processor or high-powered blender. Pulse several times until the are finely chopped and form a coarse paste.
  3. With the motor running on low, slowly stream in the olive oil until the pesto is smooth and emulsified.
  4. Check the consistency. If it's too thick for your liking, add the water, 1 tablespoon (15 ml / 0.5 fl oz) at a time, with the motor running, until you reach your desired texture.
  5. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
  6. Transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Nutrition

Calories: 142kcalCarbohydrates: 2.8gProtein: 1.8gFat: 14.1g

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!