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Pistachio Pesto Recipe: Vibrant, Nutty Sauce in Just 10 Minutes

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Vibrant, nutty pistachio pesto made with fresh basil, toasted pistachios, and zesty lemon ready in just 10 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale

1 cup shelled pistachios, lightly toasted

2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed

1/2 cup grated Parmesan or Pecorino (or 1/3 cup nutritional yeast for vegan)

23 garlic cloves, peeled

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil (plus extra to thin)

2 tbsp lemon juice

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Optional: 1–2 tbsp honey or maple syrup

Instructions

1. Toast pistachios in a dry skillet for 3–5 minutes, stirring until fragrant. Let cool.

2. Wash and dry basil. Peel garlic and zest lemon.

3. Pulse pistachios, garlic, and cheese in a food processor until coarsely chopped.

4. Add basil and lemon juice. Stream in olive oil while blending until creamy.

5. Season with salt, pepper, and adjust lemon. Store with a layer of oil to preserve.

Notes

Use nutritional yeast for a vegan version.

Roasted pistachios add deeper flavor—reduce salt.

Freeze extra pesto in ice cube trays for easy future use.

Nutrition