Poor Man's Pesto
This pesto is simple yet delicious and has an added benefit of being healthy and nutritious too!
Servings: 6
Calories: 237kcal
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves (loosely packed)
- 1 cup fresh baby spinach leaves (loosely packed)
- 1/3 cup chopped walnuts or cashews
- 1-2 cloves garlic
- 1/2 cup extra light olive oil
- 1/2 tsp Himalayan salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 cup Parmesan (shredded)
Instructions
- Wash and pat dry the basil and baby spinach leaves.
Method 1:
- Add all ingredients to a food processor and blend on high for 20-30 seconds or as long as a minute (being sure to stop and scrape down the sides every so often) until your desired texture is achieved. Taste and adjust seasonings to your preference.
Method 2:
- Pulse the basil, spinach, nuts, garlic and cheese in a food processor for 10-20 seconds on high.
- If using a full sized processor stream in the olive oil. If using a mini-food processor (like me) add it in all at once. Be sure to scrape the sides so that all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Add the salt, pepper and dried oregano and allow to run on low for 10 seconds. Taste and adjust seasonings to your preference.
Use and Storage:
- Use with your favorite whole wheat pasta or with potatoes. Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to one week (some oxidization on the surface is normal) or you can freeze it in ice cube trays or in individual bags in the freezer for up to six months.
Notes
- You can blanch your basil and spinach leaves (steep in hot water for 20 seconds and then place the leaves into an ice bath) before processing them for a creamy and retained green sauce.
- If you don't have or want to use Parmesan cheese you can substitute it with Pecorino Romano or any other hard, salty, aged cheeses.
- To take the recipe to a whole other level, lightly toast the nuts in a pan on low heat and allow it to cool completely before adding it to the food processor.
Nutrition
Serving: 0.25cup | Calories: 237kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 332mg | Potassium: 76mg | Vitamin A: 745IU | Vitamin C: 2.3mg | Calcium: 117mg | Iron: 0.6mg