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Fresh Basil Almond Pesto

Created by Chef Christine Farkas on behalf of Almond Board of California
Almonds

Difficulty

Easy

Total Time

10 minutes

Ingredients
Serves: 1 ½ cups (375 mL), 12 (2 tbsp/30g) portions
  • 5 cups Basil, fresh leaves, and stems removed
  • 3 tbsp Almond butter, roasted
  • 1/2 cup Almond slices, toasted
  • 1 cup Baby arugula
  • 1/3 cup Nutritional yeast
  • 2 cloves Garlic, fresh
  • Zest of 1 Lemon
  • 1/2 tsp Sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp Black pepper, ground
  • 1/2 cup + 2tbsp Olive oil, extra virgin
  • Water as needed
Preparation
  1. Add the basil, roasted almond butter, toasted almond slices, baby arugula, nutritional yeast, garlic cloves, lemon zest, sea salt, and ground black pepper into a food processor. Pulse 4-5 times to combine the ingredients. Scrape down the sides with a spatula.
  2. Pour in the olive oil and blend until the preferred texture is reached. For a chunkier pesto, blend for a shorter time, for a smooth and velvety texture, blend for a longer time. Add water as needed to thin out the consistency. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  3. Enjoy immediately with the prepared almond pasta or wrap it tightly and store in the refrigerator until you are ready to use it. If you are refrigerating the pesto it will thicken up slightly. Simply stir and heat slightly or add a small amount of warm water to loosen.
Nutritional Info
Per Serving
NAME AMOUNT
Calories 140
Total Fat 14g
Saturated Fat 2g
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg
Sodium 100mg
Total Carbohydrate 3g
Dietary Fiber 1g
Total Sugars 0g (Includes 0g Added Sugar)
Protein 2g
Vitamin D 0mcg
Calcium 40mg
Iron 0.6mg
Potassium 100mg
Notes

  • The toasted almond slices provide texture, flavor complexity, increased nutrients, and a unique twist to a classic pesto sauce.
  • The roasted almond butter provides a rich and creamy texture to the pesto and umami.
  • This pesto concept can be prepared easily at home, or it can be served alongside the Prepared Almond Pasta in the refrigerated section at retail.

    • Did you know?

    In addition to almonds being a delicious ingredient in our recipes they’re also heart healthy, gut healthy, and full of vitamins and nutrients - explore Health & Nutrition to learn more. Not only that, almond farmers are dedicated to sustainability - find out how they’re Growing Good.