This paleo, vegan pesto is seriously addicting. Add it to pasta, grains, salads, scrambled eggs, salmon or pretty much anything.
Where do I start with this pesto? Maybe the fact that it’s so simple to make or that it’s totally vegan AND paleo (double-win) or the fact that I’ve been eating it with pretty much all my meals #noshame. Pesto is one of those magical sauces that has the power to make anything delicious.
It’s one of my menu buzzwords. You know, when you’re cruising through a menu and certain ingredients jump out to you like “Blah Blah Blah OMG PESTO” and you’re like “hmm I am now very intrigued by that otherwise average sounding sandwich.”
Or if you’re lucky you’ll see a buzzword, followed by another buzzword and then you know it’s love. That happened once when I saw a pesto, smoked salmon and goat’s cheese scramble at a breakfast place with rosemary toast. I just about passed out because those are all incredible things apart, but together? Magic. In fact, it was so delicious I regularly have pesto, smoked salmon scrambles. In fact, I just finished eating one just now.
Some of my other menu buzzwords include: basil, rosemary, goat’s cheese, ginger, avocado, sweet potato, hummus, coconut, almonds, raspberries, tahini, smoked salmon… the list probably is much longer but those are definitely the tops.
What about you? What words pop out when you’re reading a menu?
My Favorite Pesto Uses:
- Adding a bit extra olive oil and turning it into a salad dressing
- Straight up sauteed kale with pesto for a sizzling salad
- Baked salmon with pesto
- Mixing with quinoa in a Buddha Bowl
- Stirring into a veggie soup
- Adding to olive oil as a dip for fresh baked bread
- Drizzling on mozzarella and tomatoes
- As a condiment in a sandwich or atop a veggie burger
Tips for making this pesto:
- I recommend using a small blender like magic bullet or a food processor
- Grind the walnuts first until they’re a medium/fine ground then add all of the leaves and grind again
- The basil and spinach may need some coaxing which is where the olive oil comes in
- Once that’s added, continue to blend (stopping to scrape the leaves down) until the mixture is smooth then you can add a pinch of salt and blend again
Storing Tips:
- I usually place the pesto into two containers: one for now and one to store in the freezer
- I recommend keeping it for up to 2 weeks in the fridge
- 1/3 Cup of Walnuts
- 2 Cups of Fresh Basil
- 1 Cup of Fresh Spinach
- 1/3 Cup of Olive Oil
- Pinch of Salt
- Place walnuts into a food processor or magic bullet (I used the small cup)
- Add greens and blend – you may need to use a spatula to keep them moving
- Drizzle in oil and blend
- Add pinch of salt and blend
- Keep blending (stopping to scrape sides) until smooth in texture
- –
- Keeps for 3 weeks in the fridge or 6 months in freezer
Your Turn:
- What are you biggest menu buzzwords?
- Are you a fellow pesto fiend? If so, what’s your favorite way to enjoy it?
OMG. This was exactly the recipe I was looking for. I’ve been obsessed with walnuts lately (weird?). I’m getting a food processor this weekend and will report back to you how it came out 🙂
Not weird at all. I’m obsessed with my food processor and use it for my smoothies too so aka every day! Let me know how you like yours!
Oh how I love pesto and it is so easy to make and versatile…You can seriously throw it on anything savory and it will taste awesome…Never tried making it with walnuts though…Sounds DELISH! Hope you are staying warm and sane in Boston! XOXO
I love me some pine nuts but walnuts add a really nice texture. It’s so fun experimenting with different types of pesto recipes.
I like pesto on my pizza 😛
Anything with avocado in it catches my eye on menus
Pesto pizza is divine! Once this whole 30 is done I’ll probably have to make some homemade pesto pizza. mmmmm
Yum I make a kale pesto, I have got to try this spinach version! Looks awesome
Another great leafy pesto green! I bet that has a great texture, you do need a pretty tough food processor to get through kale though
YUM! Pesto, sun dried tomatoes, pecans, candied walnuts…the list goes on…just seeing those words and I’m sold!
That sounds like the makings of an incredible salad!
Haha! I’ve never thought about buzzwords like that before but avocado is definitely one of mine. Or garlic shrimp. MMMM drooling.
Ooo garlic shrimp! Sign me up
YUS! Thanks for finally posting your “secret” pesto recipe! What an awesome option to add to salads. I’m especially excited that you use walnuts instead of pine nuts! It makes me feel like anything is possible LoL
hahaha “anything is possible” made me smile so hard (is that a thing you can say?) Anywho Let me know if you end up making it (or your own version because modifications are always fun)
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