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My favourite homemade pesto recipe! This pesto is made with walnuts instead of pine nuts, which makes it a little easier on your wallet too. This walnut basil pesto is easy AND delicious!
*Please note* This post has been updated as of September, 2019. The recipe and photos remain the same.
You know how there’s some things you keep buying, even though you know it’s ridiculously easy to make? Pesto, friends. Pesto.
Sidebar – for some reason the word pesto makes me think of Harry Potter. If you yell it really loud, doesn’t it kind of sound like the beginning of a spell? Preferably a spell that would turn my notebook into a delicious ice cream sundae oozing with chocolate and salted caramel sauce, or a big, juicy burger with extra cheese and pickles….(I might be hungry)….but I’m sorry to say, J.K. Rowling did not make the appetite of her characters a magical priority, so there is no such spell in the HP books. I can confirm – I have a list.
Ok, spells aside, (and dinner eaten), I had made pesto a few times before, and much to my delight, it had always turned out great; HOWEVER, pine nuts are ridiculously expensive. I am using this reason as the reason that I stopped making it and kept buying it, although that little thing called convenience might have played a part as well.
Do you have to use pine nuts in pesto?
I had heard that you can use a variety of different nuts to make pesto, but had never tried it until one day I was faced with a Costco-sized bag of walnuts and some garden basil that was beginning to flower. Ta da! Walnut basil pesto was born.
Walnuts are not the most glamourous of nuts, but they have a ridiculously high amount of Vitamin E and even those sought-after Omega 3’s. Not sold yet? Walnuts are cheap. OK – maybe not CHEAP, but much, much more affordable than those pesky pine nuts.
What is pesto made of?
Such simple ingredients! Basil leaves (or other greens), olive oil, and some nuts. Typically pine nuts!
Making the pesto takes all of 5 minutes (WIN)!! Combine all of the ingredients except the oil and lemon juice, and pulse for a few minutes in a food processor, or powerful blender. Slowly add in the oil, and pulse until the pesto is mostly blended. Add in the lemon juice, pulse a few more times, and voila.
How long does homemade pesto last?
The finished product will last a couple of weeks in the fridge, or up to 2 months in the freezer. You can even store the pesto in an ice cube tray for single-serve usage. (I’m full of great ideas today).
We enjoyed our fresh pesto on some pasta recently, but my favourite way to use it is probably on a sandwich. So good! Pesto is pretty versatile; use it on pizza, pasta, sandwiches, or simply as a dip. If you’re feeling adventurous you can add in some spices and herbs to your pesto (think mint or cilantro).
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I think this pesto would go so good with a few of these dishes:
Or this creamy pumpkin seed pesto pasta from Crumb Top Baking!
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Walnut Basil Pesto
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 cup 1x
Description
My favourite homemade pesto recipe! This pesto is made with walnuts instead of pine nuts, which makes it a little easier on your wallet too. This walnut basil pesto is easy AND delicious!
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh basil
- 1/3 cup walnuts (whole or pieces)
- 1/3 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 3 cloves garlic (try roasted garlic)
- 1/2 cup oil (avocado, olive, or vegetable)
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- In the bowl of a food processor or powerful blender, add the basil, walnuts, parmesan, and garlic. Pulse for about a minute to combine the ingredients, then slowly add the oil (using the pour attachment of the processor) or by adding the oil in stages to the blender, pulsing the entire time.
- Scrape down the sides of the processor/blender and add the lemon juice. Pulse/blend until the pesto is smooth. Use immediately.
Pesto will keep in the fridge, in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks, or up to 2 months in the freezer. Try freezing the pesto in an ice cube tray for single-serve use.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
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Mmmm… love pesto! It’s such a good classic that I always come back to it. Love the idea of making it with walnuts!
Thank you Natasha! It is totally a classic. It’s so good with walnuts, my new favourite!
I keep buying pesto as well although I do know a homemade one is much more delicious. But our supermarket has stopped selling my favorite sun-dried tomato pesto this year so I’ve been planning to make it for a while. I agree on that the pine nuts are ridiculously expensive; however, I buy a bag at Costco which lasts for a few months (which is not that bad. Especially if compare the cost at Costco and bulk stores). Walnut and basil is one of my favorite combos so I’m digging this delightful pesto!
Ooh a sundried tomato pesto sounds delicious – maybe that needs to be your next recipe? I have not seen pine nuts at Costco! I will have to check for that next time. Thank you Ben!!
Yum! Walnuts give pesto such a nice meaty woodsy bite!
Thank you Patrick!! I totally agree.
This pesto looks so fresh and so yummy! I JUST got my replacement blades from Cuisinart in the mail today! Time to get the food processor back out! YUM! XOXO 🙂
It is so fresh!! Yay for getting your food processor up and running!! I would be so sad if mine broke down. Thank you Kelly!!
Dear JK Rowling, please create a spell that will turn my computer into this pesto. Thank you! For real, Katherine, pesto is easily one of my favorite things. I’ve never tried making it with walnuts but you’re so right about convenience. I always have walnuts on hand. NEVER have pine nuts :). Have a great evening!
Haha – I love it. I NEVER have pine nuts either!! You definitely need to try it with walnuts. Thank you dear, have a great one!!
This pesto looks amazing!
Thanks lady!! We just had it tonight and it was pretty awesome!!
Pesto is my middle name! I make it all the time so I gave up buying pine nuts long ago because of the cost. I love using walnuts as well — the flavor is more pronounced. This looks so delicious Katherine!
YES – pine nuts are just too darn expensive for me. I think walnuts are the perfect compromise. Thank you Marcie!!
Love this recipe! Pine nuts are SUPER expensive, which is why I am usually reluctant to make pesto at home. Using walnuts is a great alternative. Great photos too!! 🙂
Pine nuts are sooo expensive!! I always have walnuts on hand so it just made sense 😉 Thank you so much Alia!!
Thanks a lot Katherine…I was at a coffee shop, reading your post and I said PESTO, I did’nt think I said it out too loud, but when I looked around a few people were staring at me and the waiter asked me if I am okay.So now I look crazy. But it was fun looking at their confused faces😁.
This recipe is amazing, pine nuts are waaaayyyy too expensive, so I love the walnut substitution. I love basil and have tons growing in the herb garden so this is a great recipe in which to use them. Love it!!!!!😃
Ashika, that is SO funny. I love that the waiter actually asked if you were ok. He probably thought you were saying a Harry Potter spell….haha!! Thank you so much for the laugh! I’m glad you agree on the pine nuts!! I hope you love this pesto as much as we do!! XO
Great, great idea and I actually prefer walnuts to pine nuts, so rock on!! Looks delicious Katherine and this is so easy! I can’t wait to make it!!! 🙂 Have a great day!
Walnuts are the best!!! Totally underrated, in my humble opinion. It is SO easy. I hope you love it!! Have a great weekend Kim!!