This healthy pesto recipe is a staple in my refrigerator! It is packed with flavor even though it isn’t packed with cheese, like your typical pesto recipes. I’ve posted the grilled healthy pesto shrimp and kitchen sink tacos on my instagram. I posted the flank steak topped with healthy pesto on the Sunday Dinner post here on the blog. This recipe elevates almost any recipe. It is amazing in a breakfast omelet, too! I’ll make sure that omelet recipe makes its way to the blog or to my instagram at the very least so stay tuned for more ways to use this healthy pesto recipe in other everyday applications.
Everyday Paleo Pesto
Everyday Paleo Pesto is a kitchen staple, made in 5 minutes, and good on almost anything.
Ingredients
- 2 cups basil leaves tightly packed
- 1/2-3/4 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup pine nuts roasted
- 3 cloves garlic peeled
- 2 tbsp lemon juice fresh
- pinch lemon zest
- salt & pepper
Instructions
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Add all ingredients to a food processor except for the oil. Blend until the texture is smooth and thick. Be sure no ingredients are on the wall of the food processor. Place the lid back on the food processor and slowly drizzle in the oil. Keep blending until well combined and emulsified.
I typically double the recipe and store in an air mason jar to keep the flavor fresh. I’ve got this recipe on hand at ALL times, I kid you not. Give it a shot and tell me what you think! Oh, did I mention… this recipe takes 5 minutes to make? If you read the recipe instructions above you’ll notice the low-key method of making this sauce is to put most of the ingredients into the food processor, add a little oil, and you’ve got it.
Let’s talk about the health benefits of this saucy mixture.
Basil – a natural anti-inflammatory, antioxidant rich, cancer fighting, pain & fever reducer, diabetes preventing, liver protecting (HELLO boozy liver discomfort), immune booster, and everybody’s favorite new buzz word – adaptogenic – meaning it helps your body manage a steady & healthy response to stress (who doesn’t need that).
Olive Oil – packed with monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), or the healthy fat, credited for lowering your risk of heart disease, lower cholesterol, blood sugar balancing, extremely high in antioxidants, Vitamin E (immunity, healthy skin, eyes) and K (bone health, body recovery).
Pine Nuts – may suppress your appetite to aid in weight loss, antioxidant rich to assist in anti-aging, energy boosting, and could reduce your risk for heart disease.
Garlic – a plant in the allium (onion) family which contains allicin, the source of most of the nutrients. It’s low calorie yet contains manganese, Vitamin B6, C, Selenium, and Fiber. It assists with immunity, blood pressure regulation, reducing cholesterol, and contains key antioxidants that may help prevent alzheimer’s and dementia. Garlic may also even help detoxify heavy medals in the body.
Lemon – hydration, vitamin C, digestion (biggy for me), skin, kidney stone prevention
Lemon Zest – lemon peels contain as much as 5 to 10 times more vitamins than the lemon juice itself. To name a few: Vitamin C, Vitamin A, beta carotene, folate, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Lemon peels can also help eradicate toxic elements in the body.
I mentioned above this recipe is good on ANYTHING… Just tonight, I put it over zucchini noodles, cherry tomatoes, and chicken. DEEELISH.
Hope you enjoy!
xoxo, Jess
