• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers & Bites
    • Mains
    • Sides
    • Salads & Dressings
    • Pizza
    • Soups & Stews
    • Breakfast & Brunch
    • Desserts
    • Drinks & Libations
    • Breads, Butters, and Jams
    • Sourdough
    • Sauces & Savory Condiments
    • tips & tricks
    • Harry Potter
    • Recipe Index
  • Adventures
  • Reads
  • Shop
    • Kitchen Tools
    • Pantry Staples
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure Policy

Whip & Wander

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Newsletter
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Whip & Wander » Recipes » sauces & savory condiments

    Published: Aug 13, 2020 · Modified: May 16, 2022 by Jenni · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Basil Walnut Pesto

    This page may contain affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure policy for details.
    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
    Pesto made with walnuts and basil in a white dish with a gold spoon resting ona wooden surface with a white towel and fresh basil leaves nearby
    green pesto sauce in a white dish with a gold spoon resting in the dish, a bundle of fresh basil and a white towel on the table next to the dish
    green basil pesto made with walnuts in a light colored dish resting on a wooden surface
    pinch bowls and spoons containing ingredients for basil walnut pesto resting on a wooden table

    pesto sauce made with walnuts and basil in a white dish with a white twel underneatha nd a few fresh basil leaves resting nearby

    A year-round staple worth adding to your menu

    Having a solid pesto recipe in your back pocket is worth its weight in gold. Pesto is easy to make, requires few ingredients, and is marvelously complementary in a vast number of dishes. This Basil Walnut Pesto recipe is my go-to when I'm in need of a little pesto magic. Loaded with classic pesto staples: fresh basil, parmesan cheese, garlic, olive oil, salt, and black pepper, this pesto is complemented by walnuts which lend an earthy creaminess, lemon which brightens and opens the flavor profile, and a pinch of red pepper flakes to add a tiny boost of spice.

    Whether you're plucking the basil straight out of your garden in the summer or relying on your local grocery to stock the green herb in the cooler months, this Basil Walnut Pesto can be made in 5-minutes or less and is a year-round staple worth adding to your menu.

    the ingredients for basil walnut pesto sauce resting on a wooden surface in containers

    How to use Basil Walnut Pesto

    • Drizzle over the top of a Caprese salad or this Strawberry Peach Summer Salad
    • Drizzled on top of roasted vegetables or potatoes - swap out the chimichurri for pesto on these Smashed Potatoes
    • Swirled into hummus or this Easy Labneh Cheese
    • Stir it into mayo for a tasty dipping sauce for Pressure Cooker Artichokes
    • Add to eggs. It's wonderful drizzled on fried and scrambled eggs, omelets, or frittatas - Add a few dollops to a Kitchen Sink Frittata prior to baking or after it's pulled out of the oven
    • In pasta - choose your favorite noodle and once cooked, stir in a healthy measure of pesto and top with a sprinkle of fresh parmesan cheese. It's also particularly lovely rippled into alfredo, bechamel, and white cheddar pasta sauces
    • In rice or risotto - add the same way you'd use it in pasta
    • Mix it into creamy salad dressings or vinaigrettes and dress your salad greens
    • Add a measure to potato salad for an extra herby kick
    • Drizzle on top of grilled chicken or shrimp
    • Swirl into creamy polenta and top with your choice of protein
    • Use as a tasty pizza sauce instead of or in addition to tomato
    • Bake it directly into bread for a tasty flavor swirl
    • Spread on top of toast, baguette, or flatbread and top with fresh or blistered tomatoes
    • It also makes a wonderful addition to sandwiches - spread directly on sandwich bread or swirl it into mayo for a creamy pesto mayo

    a white cloth, a dish of basil walnut pesto sauce, and a bundle of fresh basil on a wooden surface

    a closeup of pesto made with basil and walnuts in a natural stoneware dish with a white cloth and fresh basil leaves resting next to the dish

    What tools do I need to make this recipe?

    • A food processor or high-powered blender
    • A cutting board
    • A chefs knife
    • A citrus zester and a citrus juicer
    • Measuring cups and measuring spoons

    A note for special diets

    This Basil Walnut Pesto is grain-free, gluten-free, low-lactose, and friendly for low-carb, keto, low-FODMAP, and vegetarian diets.

    a gold spoon resting in a dish of basil walnut pesto sauce with a white cloth and fresh basil resting ona wooden surface next to it

    basil walnut pesto in a stoneware dish with a gold spoon resting in the pesto, a piece of cheesecloth and basil surround the dish

    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    pesto sauce made with walnuts and basil in a white dish with a white twel underneatha nd a few fresh basil leaves resting nearby

    Basil Walnut Pesto

    • Author: Whip & Wander
    • Prep Time: 5 min
    • Total Time: 5 min
    • Yield: 1 cup 1x
    • Category: Sauces & Savory Condiments
    • Method: Food Processor
    • Cuisine: Italian
    • Diet: Vegetarian
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    Whether you're plucking the basil straight out of your garden in the summer or relying on your local grocery to stock the green herb in the cooler months, this fodmap-friendly Basil Walnut Pesto can be made in 5-minutes or less and is a year-round staple worth adding to your menu.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 2 cups (78g) basil, firmly packed
    • ½ cup (106g) extra virgin olive oil - OR - for those following a low-FODMAP diet you can use garlic-infused olive oil
    • 3 garlic cloves (omit for low-FODMAP)
    • ⅓ cup (40g) walnuts, chopped
    • ⅓ cup (30g) shredded parmesan cheese
    • ½ tsp sea salt
    • ¼ tsp cracked black pepper
    • ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
    • zest of 1 lemon + 1 tsp of lemon juice

    Instructions

    • Add all ingredients, except for the olive oil to a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Pulse for about 1 minute, until ingredients are mostly broken down and gravelly.
    • With the food processor running, drizzle in the olive oil in a steady stream, pulsing until combined and desired smoothness is achieved.

    Notes

    Nutritional information on Whip & Wander is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.


    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 2 tbsp
    • Calories: 172
    • Sodium: 205 mg
    • Fat: 18 g
    • Saturated Fat: 3 g
    • Carbohydrates: 1 g
    • Fiber: 1 g
    • Protein: 3 g
    • Cholesterol: 3 mg

    Keywords: Basil Walnut Pesto

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @whipandwander on Instagram and hashtag it #whipandwander

    Related

    « Salmon with Adobo Sauce and Blackberry Cucumber Avocado Salsa
    Strawberry Peach Summer Salad with Basil Walnut Pesto »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Pleased to meet you, I’m Jenni!

    Welcome to my little slice of the web where I share recipes for food, travel, books, and life!

    More about me →

    Easy Summer Grilling Recipes

    • Grilled Corn Salad with Spicy Honey Lime Dressing in a large white serving bowl on a rust colored cloth with a bowl of tortilla chips and wooden salad servers resting nearby
      Grilled Corn Salad with Spicy Honey Lime Dressing
    • a Mediterranean Turkey Burger topped with tomato and red onion on a bed on dill slaw with a brioche bun resting on a plate
      Mediterranean Turkey Burgers
    • Grilled Chicken Wings with Carolina Gold Mustard BBQ Sauce on a parchment lined cutting board with a gold spoonful of sauce
      Grilled Chicken Wings with Carolina Gold Mustard BBQ Sauce
    • Grilled Skirt Steak slices with avocado chimichurri sauce on top on a wooden cutting boar with a spoonful of sauce and a knife resting nearby
      Grilled Skirt Steak with Avocado Chimichurri Sauce

    Cool and Refreshing Dishes for Warm Weather Dinners

    • a large white bowl with Southwest Pasta Salad resting on a gauzy green cloth with wooden salad servers
      Southwest Pasta Salad
    • a wooden surface with a white bowl filled with french chicken salad, on top of a white towel with wooden serving spoons resting on top, a bundle of fresh lavender resting on the surface to the right and a yellow vase filled with water to the top left
      French Chicken Salad
    • Couscous Summer Salad in a white servinf bowl resting on a yellow cloth with wooden salad servers resting next to the bowl
      Couscous Summer Salad
    • Tuna Salad Nicoise on a large white platter sitting on a wooden surface with salaf serving utensils resting to the right of the platter
      Tuna Nicoise Salad (Salade Niçoise)

    Vibrant Summer Salad Recipes to Enjoy

    • two white bowls with Caesar Salad with Spicy Roasted Chickpeas, Jammy Eggs, and Avocado, a small plate of lemons on the side
      Caesar Salad with Spicy Roasted Chickpeas, Jammy Eggs, and Avocado
    • Wedge Salad with Horseradish Blue Cheese Dressing on a deep white plate
      Wedge Salad with Horseradish Blue Cheese Dressing
    • Creamy Cucumber Radish Salad in a white bowl resting on a wooden surface with a light purple cloth
      Creamy Cucumber Radish Salad
    • strawberry peach salad on a white platter resting on a white towel
      Strawberry Peach Summer Salad with Basil Walnut Pesto

    Popular Recipes

    • a white bowl with instant pot artichokes and lemon wedges in a copper dish
      Pressure Cooker Artichokes
    • a wooden spoon resting in a skillet full of Pasta with Olive Tapenade on a dark teal cloth
      Pasta with Olive Tapenade
    • bbq sauce dripping from a spoon into a glass jar
      Carolina Gold Mustard BBQ Sauce
    • a hand pulling a square of cheesy pizza from its tray
      Easy Same-Day Pizza Dough

    New on the blog!

    • Roasted Salmon with Feta and Herbs on a large oval white platter on an orange cloth
      Roasted Salmon with Feta and Herbs
    • a gold spoon resting on a pink platter with Roasted Radishes with Garlic Chive Yogurt. crusty bread laying nearby on a wood surface.
      Roasted Radishes with Garlic Chive Yogurt
    • several plates with slices of pound cake, topped with whipped cream and berries on a neutral back ground
      Perfect Pound Cake
    • Sole Meunière on a white and blue platter on a tan cloth
      Sole Meunière

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Recipes

    • Appetizers
    • Mains
    • Sides
    • Brunch
    • Desserts
    • Pizza
    • Harry Potter
    • Sourdough

    Whip & Wander

    Copyright © 2022 Whip & Wander. All Rights Reserved.

    Privacy Policy / Disclosures

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    More to consume

    • About
    • Contact
    • Newsletter
    • Shop Tools
    • Shop Pantry
    504 shares
    • 401
    504 shares
    • 401