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spinach pesto
The Homesteading Hippy

Spinach Pesto Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups fresh spinach leaves loosely packed; baby spinach is ideal but you can use any kind you'd like
  • 1/4 cup walnuts or pine nuts
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese shredded
  • 1 cup olive oil
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp fresh lemon juice or lemon zest

Equipment

  • 1 food processor or blender
  • 1 plastic bowl
  • 1 skillet
  • 1 knife
  • 1 teaspoon
  • 1 wooden spoon

Method
 

  1. Begin by washing the spinach leaves or soaking them in a solution of 10% vinegar to water for 10 minutes. Rinse well.
    spinach leaves in vinegar solution
  2. Add to the food processor or blender.
    spinach leaves in blender
  3. Place the pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring often to prevent burning. Add spinach leaves.
    roasting nuts in skillet
  4. Finely chop garlic and add, then the cheese, salt, and pepper.
    pesto ingredients in blender
  5. Start processing the mixture.
  6. While the processor is running, slowly add the olive oil.
    adding olive oil to blender
  7. Add the lemon juice, and stir.
    adding vinegar
  8. Serve at once over hot pasta, or store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, or the freezer for up to 6 months.
    pesto in blender