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Zesty Avocado Pistachio Pesto

Zesty Avocado Pistachio Pesto

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Zesty Avocado Pistachio Pesto is not the first recipe I’ve used pistachios and avocado in. Friends, it won’t be my last. I’ve also got a recipe for Herbed Avocado Aioli because pistachios and avocados do great things together.

Have It Your Way

This recipe is a good base or guide for pesto making.

Oil-Free Instructions:

Sub an extra half to full avocado for the olive oil.

Garlic is optional

Some people like garlic in their pesto. Sometimes I do as well. Adding a little garlic gives this zesty pesto a nice punch if you are in the mood.

Creamy or Rustic?

The more you process, the creamier it will become. Also, using fewer pistachio nuts and adding more water makes it creamier.

For a more rustic pesto, use more pistachio nuts and pulse to a grittier rustic texture.

Have fun with your Zesty Avocado Pistachio Pesto

Feel free to experiment with using more or less of any of the ingredients in this pesto. Sometimes I use more basil when I make pesto. It’s hard to make bad pesto. I recommend starting low on garlic, salt, and oil, but other than that pesto is a great wing-it kind of thing.

Oil

This recipe works well with low smoke point oil such as Extra Virgin Olive Oil. I’ve also made it with avocado oil, which is a high smoke point oil. Neutral flavor oils are recommended.

Heating The Pesto Is Not Recommended

This pesto contains fresh basil and avocado. These things don’t like to be heated up. However, you can add pesto to things that are already hot. I often toss this pesto with hot pasta or spread it on roasted veggies right after I pull them from the oven.

Zesty Avocado Pistachio Pesto Is Fabulous In:

Let’s make Pesto

Ingredients for Zesty Avocado Pistachio Pesto. Water is not pictured.

Place all ingredients in a small food processor and process to desired consistency. Serve or store.

Ingredients for Zesty Avocado Pistachio Pesto in the food processor, ready to process. By Plant Test Kitchen.
In the food processor, ready to process.

A Blender also works, but it involves more spatula work and hassles to get it to blend.

Easy Oven-Roasted Marinated Portobellos served with Zesty Avocado Pistachio Pesto, roasted red peppers, Aquafaba low-oil hummus, sprouts, and grilled bread. By Plant Test Kitchen.
Easy Oven-Roasted Marinated Portobellos served with Zesty Avocado Pistachio Pesto, roasted red peppers, Aquafaba low-oil hummus, sprouts, and grilled bread.
Zesty Avocado Pistachio Pesto
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4.15 from 7 votes

Zesty Avocado Pistachio Pesto

A fresh pesto that can be rustic or creamy depending on how long you blend and how nuts you go with the nuts.
Course Appetizer, Basics, Dip, Holiday, Parm topping, Sauce, Snack, spread
Cuisine American, Italian, Mediterranean
Keyword creamy, lux, rich, tangy, zippy
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 16 servings of 2 Tablespoons
Calories 55kcal

Equipment

  • Small Food Processor or Blender (the blend might require more spatula work)

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients in the food processor, process to desired consistency and serve or store.

Notes

Nutrition Information is approximate.

Heating The Pesto Is Not Recommended

This pesto contains fresh basil and avocado. These things don’t like to be heated up. However, you can add pesto to things that are already hot. I often toss this pesto with hot pasta or spread it on roasted veggies right after I pull them from the oven.

Garlic is optional

Some people like garlic in their pesto, sometimes I do as well. Adding a little garlic gives this zesty pesto a nice punch if you are in the mood.

Creamy or Rustic?

The more you process the creamier it will become. Also, using fewer pistachio nuts and adding more water makes it creamier.
For a more rustic pesto, use more pistachio nuts and pulse to a grittier rustic texture.

Have fun with your pesto

Feel free to experiment with using more or less of any of the ingredients in this pesto. Sometimes I use more basil when I make pesto. It’s hard to make bad pesto. I recommend starting low on garlic, salt, and oil, but other than that pesto is a great wing-it kind of thing.
Oil-Free Instructions:
Sub an extra avocado for the olive oil.
www.planttestkitchen.com

Nutrition

Calories: 55kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 61mg | Potassium: 85mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 105IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 1mg

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Did you make this Zesty Avocado Pistachio Pesto? Any variations? What did you eat it with? Tell me about in the comments section below.

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