5 minute perfect pesto sauce is complimented with peppery arugula, spinach, garlic and a hint of apple. This recipe will brighten up an array of dishes, including pasta, flatbreads, poultry, and much more. Try it out on our cheese pizza crust using it as your favorite sauce.
Quality ingredients matter
Having good quality ingredients is always a must for a great tasting pesto. Traditional pesto is a combination of basil, garlic, parmesan, pine nuts, lemon juice, and extra virgin olive oil.
Something untraditional that this recipe incorporates is apple. Pesto can be a bit bitter sometimes and the addition of apple helps balance the flavors.
Parmesan helps to thicken the pesto and adds a great cheesy flavor. Don’t add salt until after adding the parmesan because parmesan packs a high salt content. We are NEVER talking about grated parmesan cheese in a can!
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Pesto Sauce Versatility
Pesto recipes are very versatile allowing substitutions for nuts and greenery. Pine nuts can be quite expensive so walnuts are one of my favorite substitutions. Almonds have a neutral flavor that makes them a good choice as well. If you want a deeper, nuttier flavored pesto, toast your nuts first. The variations of greenery are endless, some include spinach, kale, tarragon, mint and even avocado.
How to make 5 Minute Perfect Pesto Sauce
Place the basil, picked of all their stems, as well as the arugula and spinach, minced garlic, small diced apple, nuts, parmesan and lemon juice in the food processor. Turn on to low and slowly drizzle the olive oil through the top, stop and scrape down the sides. Allow the mixture to blend together well but still have plenty of body.
Store in a sealed glass jar with extra olive oil layered over the top to help keep from oxidizing. This recipe has never had oxidation issues, in my experience, even without layering oil over the top. The pesto will keep for three to six weeks in a sealed glass container.
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Looking for more great recipes? Check out roasted red pepper sauce and chicken with artichokes in pesto sauce.
Roasted Cabbage with Red Pepper Sauce Chicken and artichokes with pesto sauce
5 Minute Perfect Pesto Sauce
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 12 ounces 1x
- Category: Sauces
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
5 minute perfect pesto sauce is complimented with peppery arugula, spinach, garlic and a hint of apple.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups fresh basil leaves, removed of stems
1 cup arugula/spinach mix
1/3 cup walnuts, or preferred nut
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon lemon juice, fresh squeezed
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
2/3 cup parmesan cheese, fresh grated
1/4 cup apple, small dice (I use Honeycrisp)
1/2 cup olive oil
Instructions
Place the basil and arugula/spinach mix in food processor and pulse 5 seconds.
Add minced garlic, small diced apple, nuts, parmesan and lemon juice, pulse 5 seconds.
Turn on to low and slowly drizzle the olive oil through the top, stop and scrape down the sides. Allow the mixture to blend together well but still have plenty of body.
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