Sidetracked Sarah

Helping Busy Moms Take Back Their Lives!

You Are Here: Home » The Cook » How to Make Basil Walnut Pesto

How to Make Basil Walnut Pesto

By

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Pin6
Share
Tweet
Yum
6 Shares

Are you looking for a way to make your meal a bit more special? Whether it’s salad, pasta or a side dish, this Basil Walnut Pesto is going to do just that!

We love pasta recipes, and this pesto would be a great addition! Some of our favorites are Slow Cooker Mozzarella Chicken & Pasta and Skillet Shrimp and Pasta Primavera Recipe & 20 Minute Meal!

 Basil Walnut Pesto

Many people may be unfamiliar with the concept of pesto. If you don’t know what it is, let me explain it real quick.  Basically, pesto is a sauce that is typically used on pasta but can also be used to make other dishes have a lot more flavor. Dishes like salad, pasta salad, potatoes, risotto, chicken and more can all benefit from this DELICIOUS sauce!

What if I don’t have any walnuts?

As the name reads, you really need to have walnuts on hand for this recipe! HOWEVER, if you want to go with a more traditional pesto, Pine Nuts can easily be substituted.

Tip: Grab a pack of the chopped or crushed walnuts in the baking aisle next time you are at the store! They freeze really well if you want to store several packs for a period of time.

If I don’t have fresh garlic, can I use minced, jarred garlic?

While fresh garlic is always a bit better, you definitely can use minced garlic! Just make the proper substitutions – it should let you know what that is on the side of the jar.  

This Basil Walnut Pesto is delicious! What recipes can I use it with ASAP?

I know what you mean! These recipes are perfect to try it with:

Print Pin

How to Make Basil Walnut Pesto

Author Sarah Robinson

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ to 3 cups fresh sweet basil leaves packed
  • 2 cloves garlic peeled
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • ¼ cup walnuts
  • ½ cup grated parmesan
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • Salt and pepper if desired

Instructions

  • Toast walnuts by placing on a microwave safe plate. Microwave for 30 seconds. Stir and microwave again for another 30 seconds or until walnuts smell fragrant. Do not overcook. Allow walnuts to cool slightly..
  • Place basil, 1 tablespoon olive oil, walnuts, and parmesan cheese in a food processor.
  • Turn food processor on and drizzle with additional olive oil as the mixture processes until the desired consistency is reached.

Notes

Cook’s notes: For a more traditional pesto sauce, pine nuts can be substituted for walnuts.

MADE THIS RECIPE?

Show me what you made on Instagram or Facebook and tag me at @sidetrackedsarah or hashtag it at #sidetrackedsarah.

 

Meet the Robinsons

This is one of my daughter’s senior pictures from last year.  I can’t believe this year is now an adult and about to be 20 years old!  

picture of 19 year old daughter, Autumn

Pin6
Share
Tweet
Yum
6 Shares

Testimonials

  • Amorette DavisUser of the Free Freezer to Slow Cooker One Week Menu

    Thank you so much! As a special needs mommy these recipes have helped us so much.   I often am very busy with being a nurse for our child that I don't have time for making sure we get meals.  This allows me to do all my prep on the weekends, while my husband is home to help, and to cook during the week.  So grateful!

  • Linda SearsOwner of Freezer to Slow Cooker Menus

    Sarah’s Freezer to Slow Cooker ebooks have been a fantastic addition to my meal plans.  They make meal planning easy and my family happy. I love the way each recipe is laid out, with a shopping list and ingredient prep list, along with cooking instructions. Sarah’s done all the hard work for me!  The recipes have used have all been delicious and easily adaptable to my family’s taste and the number of people I’m serving.

  • FranOwner of Freezer to Slow Cooker Ebooks
     I purchased all of your freezer to slow cooker ebooks a month or so ago and I'm in love with this way of cooking.  I now have taken all 10 weeks of recipes and written them of my menu planner and then I repeated the 10 weeks and will continue to do so throughout the year.  My family of 5 adults and 1 child enjoy the meals that you have planned and I have cooked and I'm excited that the next time when that meal comes due up in the rotation I won't have to purchase anything but just pull it from the freezer.  Thank you so much
           A Happy Slow Cooker User
  • rayzn2angelsfrom Freezer to Slow Cooker Series

    This makes my life so much easier. I'm a busy work at home/stay at home mom, wife, business woman and I feel like dinner is always the thing I just never get time to do. We have done like 15 of the crockpot recipes from Sarah and they are all very yummy. They get a thumbs up from my husband and kids every time. And there is always enough for my husband to take the left overs at least 2x per recipe. I have a family of 5, 2 adults, 21, 13, 16. So it makes plenty. Thank you Sarah.

  • Dawn S.Buyer of Freezer to Slow Cooker Ebook Series
    I am a 59-year-old wife and mother of two grown children.  I love your idea of fixing a lot of meals ahead of time and then pulling one out, put it in the crockpot, and you have dinner when you get home.  I hate feeling rushed when I cook so Monday - Friday I use those crockpot meals and make enough that we have lunch the next day.  I take Sunday afternoon, fix up what I need for the week (I don't have a lot of freezer space so I do a week's worth at a time) and I'm done with it!  Saturdays I like to try new recipes from some of my cookbooks which I am finding I can freeze as well!  So you have shown me a whole new way to organize my time and still put a healthy meal on the table.  Thanks so much and I look forward to future blogs.

Newsletter Subscription