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Basil Pesto in a small white bowl with a pita chip in the pesto and on the plate around the outside
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5 from 7 votes

Basil and Cashew Pesto

Basil and Cashew Pesto is a great alternative pesto using cashew nuts. This easy pesto recipe is versatile and quickly whipped up in the food processor.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time0 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Australian, International
Keyword: basil and cashew pesto, basil pesto
Servings: 8
Calories: 192kcal
Author: Adrianne

Equipment

  • Food processor

Ingredients

Basil and Cashew Pesto

  • 2 cups basil leaves Note 1
  • ½ cup cashews Note 2
  • ½ cup parmesan cheese Note 3
  • ½ cup olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice Note 4

Instructions

Basil and Cashew Pesto

  • Combine basil leaves, cashew nuts, parmesan cheese and garlic in the bowl of a food processor, blitz for approximately 10 seconds.
  • Remove the lid and scrap the sides of the bowl, pushing the pesto back into the food processor.
  • Use a teaspoon to taste a small amount, then add lemon juice a little at a time, blitz for another couple of seconds then taste again. Repeat till desired taste achieved.
  • Pesto can be stored in the fridge in a sealed container for one week.

Video

Notes

  • Note 1 Pull the leaves off the stems and add to a bowl. Don't worry if a little bit of stem gets into the mix, but for the majority, we are looking for the leaves not the stem.
  • Note 2 I use roasted unsalted cashews for this recipe.
  • Note 3 Try and get the parmesan cheese that has a real 'bite' to the taste and texture. It is THE BEST and other ones whilst still being cheese, won't taste as good. The packet will indicate 'strong flavour'. 
  • Note 4 If you want to use fresh lemon and squeeze it in, that works, but store bought lemon juice is fine, don't loose a wink of sleep over this one ingredient. 

Nutrition

Calories: 192kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 102mg | Potassium: 81mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 365IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 90mg | Iron: 1mg