Basil Almond Pesto Recipe - Healthy & Homemade « Running in a Skirt (2024)

Disclosure: *This post may include affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Jump to Recipe

Tasty and filled with healthy fats, this homemade basil almond pesto recipe is made with almonds instead of the usual pine nuts to provide a lighter more neutral flavor. The easy pesto is the perfect addition to pasta dishes, sandwiches, wraps, salads, dips, dressings, and more.

Basil Almond Pesto Recipe - Healthy & Homemade « Running in a Skirt (1)

Almond Basil Pesto Recipe

Every year I plant a garden and every year I get halfway through the summer and decide I don't have enough basil. This year I decided to remedy that and planted FOUR huge pots of basil. Well, I might have overcompensated because now I'm overgrown. The plants are going crazy and are so pretty and fragrant. But let's just say I have enoughbasil for a lifetime.

So, of course, that means it's time to get creative in the kitchen! First up is homemade PESTO. But not just any pesto... a more economical one. I love pine nuts but those things are pricey! I have a huge stash of almonds in my kitchen for snacks, so I decided to see how the pesto tasted with almonds.

What about a Basil Almond Pesto?

My question was is a basil pesto made with almonds good? The little experiment was a WINNER and this lovely Basil Almond Pesto recipe was born.

Pesto with ALMONDS? YES!!! Try this 5 Ingredient Almond Basil Pesto from Running in a Skirt #recipe #healthy #healthylivingClick to Tweet

Basil Almond Pesto Recipe - Healthy & Homemade « Running in a Skirt (2)

Why you'll love my Almond Pesto recipe...

This Basil Almond Pesto recipe is fabulous not just because almonds cost less, but they are also a nutritional powerhouse and superfood! They are full of protein, healthy fats, fiber, antioxidants, magnesium, vitamin E, and can even help lower cholesterol levels. They are just about a perfect food.

Benefits of Almonds?

Here are some other benefits of almonds!

  • Lower cholesterol and blood pressure.
  • Help digestion
  • Reduce cravings
  • Help with heart disease

Putting them in your pesto means your dinner just got that much healthier... YOU'RE WELCOME. 🙂

Basil Almond Pesto Recipe - Healthy & Homemade « Running in a Skirt (3)

What's pesto made of?

Traditional pesto is made with basil, pine nuts, parmesan, garlic, and olive oil. In this recipe, we're sticking with tradition except for one simple change! Almonds instead of pine nuts. Although, if you're a pesto purist, you can certainly use pine nuts if you prefer, I think you'll love this change!

Basil Almond Pesto Ingredients

To make this basil almond pesto recipe you will need:

  • Fresh Basil:Pesto is the perfect way to use up all of that extra basil you have growing in your garden. This is one recipe where dried herbs don't work.
  • Almonds:Almonds are much more inexpensive than pine nuts, and they have a nice neutral flavor, which makes them the perfect option for pesto.
  • Parmesan Cheese:Use freshly grated parmesan to add more flavor.
  • Fresh Garlic:Garlic helps to liven up pesto. This is one ingredient you won't want to skip.
  • Olive Oil:High-quality olive oil, like extra-virgin, provides the best flavor.
  • Salt & Pepper:As simple as it is, salt and pepper are a must as they help to increase flavor and reduce the bitterness of the basil.

How to Make the Pesto Sauce with Almonds?

This pesto sauce with almonds comes together in a flash thanks to a food chopper or food processor.

  1. Take your fresh basil, almonds, olive oil, parmesan cheese, and garlic and blend until it's as smooth as you'd like.
  2. Scoop it out and use it in your favorite recipe.

The pesto freezes well and would be so lovely to have in the winter. You can freeze it in ice cube trays, pop out the cubes and then store it in plastic freezer bags.

What kind of nuts can you use for pesto?

If you are curious... "Can I use almonds in pesto?!" YES you can!!

You can also use other nuts like cashews, Brazil nuts and walnuts! All of them give a slightly different flavor to the healthy pesto but all are still delicious.

Basil Almond Pesto Recipe - Healthy & Homemade « Running in a Skirt (4)

The flavor is very similar to traditional pesto with plenty of nutty, basil-y, garlic-y goodness.

What is this recipe used for?

You can serve this almond pesto recipe on:

  • Pesto Quinoa with Shrimp
  • Creamy Pesto Pasta
  • Pistachio Pesto Zoodles
  • Easy Lemon Pesto Salmon <---this EASY lemon pesto salmon is one you HAVE to try!

Basil Almond Pesto Recipe - Healthy & Homemade « Running in a Skirt (5)

I hope you enjoy this Basil Almond Pesto recipe as much as I did! My only problem is I still am running wild with basil... but I guess there are a lot worse problems to have. 🙂

Pesto with ALMONDS? YES!!! Try this 5 Ingredient Almond Basil Pesto from Running in a Skirt #recipe #healthy #healthylivingClick to Tweet

If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and a star rating ★ below. Make sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook too!

Basil Almond Pesto Recipe - Healthy & Homemade « Running in a Skirt (6)

Homemade Basil Almond Pesto Recipe

Julie Wunder

Tasty and filled with healthy fats, this homemade basil almond pesto recipe is made with almonds instead of the usual pine nuts to provide a lighter more neutral flavor. The pesto is the perfect addition to pasta dishes, sandwiches, wraps, salads, dips, dressings and more.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Dinner

Cuisine Italian

Servings 4

Calories 392 kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Add all of the ingredients to a food processor and combine until smooth.

  • Serve with your favorite pesto dishes.

Notes

Store this Almond Pesto in the fridge for 5-7 days. You can also freeze it in ice cube trays. Once the pesto is frozen, pop the cubes out and transfer to a ziplock bag.

Nutrition

Calories: 392kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 8gFat: 39gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 201mgPotassium: 138mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 98IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 195mgIron: 1mg

Keyword almond, basil, pesto

Tried this recipe?Mention @Julie_Wunder or tag #RunninginaSkirt!

Like this recipe? Pin it for later!

Basil Almond Pesto Recipe - Healthy & Homemade « Running in a Skirt (7)

I’m linking up my Basil Almond Pesto recipe with:Meatless Monday,Meatless Monday,Full Plate Thursday,Foodie Friday, and theWeekend Potluck.Thanks so much, ladies for the link up parties!
Basil Almond Pesto Recipe - Healthy & Homemade « Running in a Skirt (2024)

FAQs

Is pesto unhealthy or healthy? ›

Because its ingredients include olive oil, nuts, and cheese, pesto can be high in calories and fat. However, the fat is primarily unsaturated and may have heart health benefits. Pesto is also full of antioxidants that can help protect your cells from damage.

How healthy is homemade pesto? ›

While homemade and store-bought pesto sauces can vary in nutrition facts, pesto is generally a rich source of healthy fats. Because it is made with nutritious ingredients, pesto can be consumed as part of a balanced diet. It is also part of the Mediterranean Diet.

How long does homemade basil pesto last? ›

FAQ: How Long Does Homemade Pesto Last? You can store this basil pesto in a jar or sealable container, then tightly seal and refrigerate for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 2–3 months. Let it thaw at room temperature or in the refrigerator.

Can almonds replace pine nuts in pesto? ›

Almonds make an excellent pine nut substitute with their delicate, sweet–bitter taste and crunchy texture. Replace the pine nuts in your pesto recipe with the same amount of almonds. If you want to freshen things up and go for a different taste, try a mint–almond pesto made with lemon juice.

Is pesto bad for blood pressure? ›

Dieticians consider pesto's positive health benefits to far outweigh their negatives, especially when it comes to high blood pressure.

Is it OK to eat pesto everyday? ›

You'll want to be mindful of the sodium content. Some jars have more than 500mg per serving and the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines recommend you eat no more than 2,300mg per day. It would be hard to stay within those guidelines if you get more than 20% of your sodium from pesto.

Is pesto bad for your cholesterol? ›

There are four particular forms of fat: saturated fat, trans fat, monounsaturated fat, and polyunsaturated fat. Saturated fat increases your LDL levels of cholesterol. Whereas foods rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat like pesto can decrease LDL. It also boosts HDL (considered “good” cholesterol) levels.

Is pesto good for your heart? ›

Heart-Healthy Pesto: The Benefits of Olive Oil in Pesto

Olive oil, a key ingredient in pesto, offers a myriad of health benefits, particularly for heart health. With its abundance of monounsaturated fats, olive oil can contribute to reducing harmful LDL cholesterol levels, thereby lowering the risk of heart disease.

Is pesto healthier than tomato sauce? ›

pesto and alfredo sauce are less nutrient dense than tomato sauce. however, it's your food, and it's just sauce, so I would do what you feel like and not worry too much about it. eating a balanced diet it general is more important than worrying about the “health" value of specific foods.

Should homemade pesto be refrigerated? ›

The best way to store pesto is in an airtight container in the fridge. Mason jars work great for this! What is this? If you're not planning on using the pesto within a week, you can also store it in a freezer-safe container.

Can I freeze homemade pesto? ›

You can freeze in small pint-size jars or for single servings for making soups or dressing freeze in ice cube trays. Small ice cube trays work well for small batches of soups or if you tend to need more pesto, freeze in big ice cube trays. Pour the pesto into trays and cover with freezer wrap and place in the freezer.

What pasta is best for pesto? ›

Pesto Sauce

This fresh and fragrant pasta sauce is served uncooked, so choose a pasta shape that won't overwhelm it. Similar to oil-based sauces, pesto is served best with longer cuts of pasta, like the corkscrew shape of Fusilli. Pesto works best with Bucatini, Capellini, thinner Spaghettini, and Fettuccine.

Which nuts are best for pesto? ›

TRY WITH: Walnuts, almonds, macadamia nuts, pecans, pistachios, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, peanuts. Parmesan lends a distinctive savory funk to traditional basil pesto, but it isn't your only option—any hard, salty, aged cheese (Italian or not) will get you there.

Are cashews or almonds better for pesto? ›

Cashew for their creamy texture, and almonds for their flavour.

What makes pesto unhealthy? ›

A. While pesto has impressive amounts of nutrition, it's still not the healthiest sauce. It would be best to eat it in moderation because pesto contains fats and calories from olive oil and nuts. Moreover, it is higher in fat and calories than most tomato-based sauces.

What are the disadvantages of pesto? ›

2 Potential Downsides

First, since traditional pesto contains nuts, someone with a nut allergy must avoid traditionally prepared recipes. Luckily, there's an easy workaround using recipes without nuts. Second, store-bought pesto may or may not contain extras you may not want to eat.

Is pesto OK for weight loss? ›

Traditional pesto sauce is a combination of olive oil, pine nuts, fresh basil, garlic and Parmesan cheese and it can be a healthy addition to most menu plans. Even though pesto is rather high in calories and fat, this tasty sauce offers a wealth of nutrients and flavor that many others lack.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Tish Haag

Last Updated:

Views: 5783

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (47 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Tish Haag

Birthday: 1999-11-18

Address: 30256 Tara Expressway, Kutchburgh, VT 92892-0078

Phone: +4215847628708

Job: Internal Consulting Engineer

Hobby: Roller skating, Roller skating, Kayaking, Flying, Graffiti, Ghost hunting, scrapbook

Introduction: My name is Tish Haag, I am a excited, delightful, curious, beautiful, agreeable, enchanting, fancy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.