Walnut Pesto (Easy, 5-Minute Recipe!) – Jarastyle

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Green pesto sauce in a jar with a wooden spoon. Text reads,

There are so many ways to use this vibrant green Walnut Pesto.

It’s one of my favorite basic Italian sauces for pasta, pizza, and vegetables. It’s super tasty as a condiment for sandwiches and wraps, too.

The bright green hue of this Walnut Pesto comes from a blend of fresh basil, spinach, and parsley. So this recipe is perfect for those times when you have lots of herbs and greens to use up before they go bad!

The best thing about this pesto is that you can prep a batch in just 5 minutes. So quick and easy.

Here’s how to do it.

Walnut pesto sauce in a glass jar with a wooden spoon.

Ingredients

These are the ingredients you’ll need to make 5-Minute Walnut Pesto at home.

  • Basil (fresh)
  • Spinach (fresh)
  • Parsley (fresh)
  • Chopped walnuts
  • Parmesan cheese (block)
  • Garlic
  • Lemon
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt
  • Pepper

A wedge of parmesan cheese on a cutting board with a grater next to lemon and bowls of basil, walnuts, spinach, and parsley.

Instructions

As far as equipment, you’ll just need a blender or food processor for this recipe.

First, add all of the ingredients (basil, spinach, parsley, walnuts, parmesan cheese, garlic, lemon peel, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and olive oil) to your blender or food processor container.

Then just cover and pulse the mixture until it reaches the consistency you like.

You might need to pause to scrape down the sides of the container with a spatula, especially if you’re using a large capacity blender. But other than that, you just pulse a few times and you’re done!

Troubleshooting Tips

You can adjust the amount of time you blend the pesto to get the texture you like. Blend it less to get a thick and chunky pesto. Pulse more times for a smooth and creamy pesto sauce. Both ways are delicious!

The one issue that might come up when you’re making your own pesto is that the greens might get stuck on the sides of the blender. If this happens, pause to scrape down the edges with a spatula. You can also try adding more olive oil to get the mixture moving.

A blender filled with unblended pesto ingredients.

Ways to Use Walnut Pesto

There are so many ways to use this 5-Minute Walnut Pesto Sauce. Here are a few of my favorites.

  • Pasta sauce (try my Veggie Pasta Pesto recipe)
  • To flavor vegetables (such as smashed potatoes) and protein (such as tofu, chickpeas, eggs, fish, chicken)
  • Sandwich or wrap condiment
  • Salad dressing
  • Pizza sauce

Making Ahead and Storage Information

Walnut Pesto works great for meal prep.

Store prepared pesto in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze in a freezer-safe bag for up to 6 months.

Horizontal overhead image of pesto in a glass jar with a wooden spoon.

Ingredient Substitutions

  • Instead of walnuts, use pine nuts, pecans, or sunflower seeds.
  • If you want to make vegan pesto, use nutritional yeast in place of the parmesan cheese.
  • If you don’t have parsley or spinach, you can add extra basil instead. Swap in baby arugula for pesto with peppery flavor!

Pesto in a wooden spoon next to lemon, garlic, and basil.

Recipes to Serve with Walnut Pesto

Walnut pesto in a glass jar with a wooden spoon.

Frequently Asked Questions About Walnut Pesto

Is pesto vegetarian?

As long as you use a parmesan cheese made with non-animal rennet (such as Belgioioso brand), this Walnut Pesto recipe qualifies as lacto-ovo vegetarian.

Can you make pesto vegan?

To make this recipe 100% vegan and dairy-free, substitute nutritional yeast for the parmesan cheese.

Can you make pesto nut-free?

Use sunflower seeds instead of walnuts to make this recipe nut-free.

How long can you store pesto sauce? Is it freezer-friendly?

Store prepared pesto in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 6 months.

📖 Recipe

green pesto in a jar with a wooden spoon

5-Minute Walnut Pesto

An Italian-inspired savory green herb sauce with notes of lemon and garlic. Use on pasta, pizza, and vegetables.

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Course: sauces

Cuisine: Italian, vegetarian

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Servings: 0.75 cup

Calories: 431kcal

Author: Stephanie McKercher, RDN

Instructions

  • Add basil, spinach, parsley, walnuts, parmesan, garlic, lemon peel, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and olive oil to a blender or food processor.

  • Blend or process until desired consistency is reached, pausing to scrape down the sides as needed. Blend less for a thick and chunky pesto and more for a smooth and creamy pesto. If the pesto is too thick or isn’t mixing together well, add more olive oil and blend again.

Notes

Not all parmesan cheese is vegetarian. If this is important to you, be sure to use a parmesan cheese that is made with non-animal rennet. One brand that uses non-animal rennet (according to their website) is Belgioioso.
 
I recommend buying a block/wedge of parmesan cheese and grating it yourself with a grater or microplane. It will result in better texture and is also usually more cost effective.
 
Storage: Store prepared pesto in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 6 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25cup | Calories: 431kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 4.6g | Fat: 46.2g | Saturated Fat: 7.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8.8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 28.2g | Cholesterol: 7.2mg | Sodium: 352mg | Potassium: 161.3mg | Fiber: 1.2g | Sugar: 0.7g | Vitamin A: 132.7IU | Vitamin C: 15.3mg | Calcium: 113.8mg | Iron: 1.1mg

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Pesto in a glass jar with text that reads,

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Jarastyle – #Walnut #Pesto #Easy #5Minute #Recipe
Courtesy : https://gratefulgrazer.com/walnut-pesto/

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