Lightened Up Basil Walnut Pesto
A vibrant, summery traditional basil pesto, made with walnuts. Comes together in 5 minutes and will put a touch of gourmet into any meal.
Prep Time5 minutes mins
Total Time5 minutes mins
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Servings: 16 tablespoons
Calories: 36kcal
- 4 cups basil fresh, loosely packed
- 2 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup walnuts
- 1-2 cloves garlic minced
- sea salt & fresh ground black pepper to taste, I used less than 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
Wash the basil and remove the leaves from the stems.
Add basil to the blender, and blend using a tamper stick until the leaves are broken up. If using a standard blender, push the leaves down several times and start again.
Once the leaves are broken up, add lemon juice, olive oil, and water. Blend until the basil and liquids become a paste.
Add the parmesan, walnuts, and minced garlic. Start by adding a pinch of sea salt and a few turns of black pepper. Once it's blended, taste, and adjust seasonings to taste.
Use as a dip, spread, or topping for a variety of foods.
Calories: 36kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 25mg | Potassium: 28mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 329IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1mg