How to make basil and walnut pesto

7 ingredients- ready in 5 mins!

This basil and walnut pesto is so simple, yet so nutritious and tasty!

What do I need to get started with basil and walnut pesto?

Simple, basil, walnuts (or any other type you choose to use or even nut free), garlic, lemon juice, salt, black pepper, oil. Ingredients which are already in your kitchen, nothing unique. Of course you can’t make a great basil and walnut pesto without a blender or a food processor.

When you are committed to your health, making your own food is never an inconvenience

If you have a severe allergy you understand how important it is to make your own foods. Cross contamination is a huge issue, and may not be too risky if you just have an intolerance.

For me my gluten and dairy allergies are severe and I am easily impacted. For instance I was out for dinner the other day and I specifically I have a severe allergy. She acknowledged, went to talk to the chef, came back and assured me my meal will be 100% gluten and dairy free. What I ordered was a piece of salmon with a garden salad, no dressing, not sauce on the fish and I asked for it to be cooked with oil not butter.

Can you guess what I forgot so specify? WHERE the chef was going to cook the fish – that’s right, on the very same grill as the butter laden versions of this meal. How did I know this happened, well within 20 minutes my stomach told me the story.

I know all too well the issues we face when someone else is preparing our food. I am going to continue to share how I’m making this journey easy and simple so that you can do it too!

Start with a bunch of fresh basil, this particular bunch was harvested from the garden and is totally organic; add all the ingredients to the blender or food processor bowl, use the salsa or pulse mode on the machine 3-5 minutes until you get the desired consistency. Time to Enjoy!

Ingredients:

4 cups fresh basil
3/4 cup olive or avocado oil
1/2 cup walnut halves
1/3 tsp salt
2 tablespoons lemon juice
4 cloves of garlic (truth is, I’m a garlic lover, so I used twice the amount)
fresh ground black pepper to taste

What can I use this basil and walnut pesto for?

Pasta, Yes! This basil and walnut pesto however is so versatile you can literally use it on or with anything.

Spread – use it as a spread for toasts, or instead of mayo for sandwiches plus it’s great on pizza.

Sauce – for any type of pasta

Garnish – for canapes and snacking crackers

Dip – for zucchini fries and fritters

Topping – fish, BBQ and baked potatoes

Drop me a comment and let me know what else you use pesto for.

Have you checked out our lineup of guilt free pleasures yet?

Ginger Apricot, Chocolate and Citrus Tigernut

Chocolate Premix

Ingredient list: Flour Blend (Teff flour, Gluten Free Oat flour, Arrowroot flour, Brown Rice flour, Buckwheat flour, Coconut flour), Raisins, Gluten Free Oat Flakes, Chia seeds, Teff Whole Grain, Ground Flax Seeds, Chocolate Flavour, Vanilla, Cocoa Powder, Baking Powder, Baking Soda, Salt.

Ginger Apricot Premix

Ingredient list: Flour Blend (Teff flour, Gluten Free Oat flour, Arrowroot flour, Brown Rice flour, Buckwheat flour, Coconut flour), Gluten Free Oat Flakes, Apricot, Crystallized Ginger, Chia Seeds, Teff Whole Grain, Ground Flax Seeds, Vanilla, Ginger Powder, Baking Powder, Baking Soda, Salt.

Citrus Tigernut Premix

Ingredient list: Flour Blend (Teff flour, Gluten Free Oat flour, Arrowroot flour, Brown Rice flour, Buckwheat flour, Coconut flour), Gluten Free Oat Flakes, Glazed Citrus, Tigernut Slices, Raisins, Chia Seeds, Teff Whole Grain, Ground Flax Seeds, Vanilla, Baking Powder, Baking Soda, Salt, Citric Acid.