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–+ servings
cashew basil pesto in a glass jar

Cashew Basil Pesto

Julia | The Yummy Bowl
This homemade Cashew Basil Pesto is a highly nutritious homemade pesto bursting with fresh flavors and vibrant green color that is ideal when paired with pasta, fish, poultry, and other types of meat.
5 from 3 votes
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Sauce
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 1 cup
Calories 1672 kcal

INGREDIENTS
  

  • 3 cups fresh basil leaves
  • 2 garlic cloves, medium
  • ½ cup toasted cashews
  • 3 oz parmesan, grated
  • 1 ½ teaspoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
  • salt to taste
  • black pepper to taste
  • ½ cup good quality olive oil

INSTRUCTIONS
 

  • Add all ingredients into a high speed blender or food processor and pulse until creamy smooth.
  • Add the oil gradually, first pour in about ¼ cup and increase until ½ cups (depends on desired consistency you want to achieve).
  • Season the pesto with a little salt and black pepper while blending. You may not need to add more. Transfer everything to a bowl or sealed jar and store in the fridge for up to 2 days.
  • Serve this pesto in your favorite pasta, for fish, poultry and meats. This recipe makes about 1 cup of pesto Which is enough for 2-3 servings with pasta along with some boiled pasta water.

VIDEO

NOTES

  • This recipe makes about 1 cup of pesto which is enough for 2-3 servings with pasta along with some boiled pasta water. Nutrition is calculated for the whole cup of cashew pesto.
  • Storing - Store this cashew pesto properly sealed in a glass container for up to 2-3 days in the fridge or for 2-3 months in a freezer bag in the freezer. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
  • I don't recommend making big batches of pesto as its great flavor comes a lot from its fresh ingredients.
  • You can add in more or less olive oil while blending the pesto ingredients to achieve the consistency desired. The amount of oil called for in this recipe will yield a reasonable thickness.
  • Fresh basil is particularly reactive to heat, turning a blackish color when in contact with heat. This is just something to note when working in the kitchen with your fresh ingredients. If you intend to add some fresh chopped basil as a garnish to a dish such as pasta, do so only when serving each plate instead of mixing it in with the ingredients (i.e. pasta) in a hot pan/skillet. 
  • The parmesan cheese is already quite high in sodium so you won’t need to add too much salt and pepper. It’s best to taste to test as you blend, adapting as required.
     

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NUTRITION

Calories: 1672kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 45gFat: 159gSaturated Fat: 34gPolyunsaturated Fat: 17gMonounsaturated Fat: 101gCholesterol: 58mgSodium: 1376mgPotassium: 749mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 4463IUVitamin C: 18mgCalcium: 1171mgIron: 8mg
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