This is a super simple recipe that literally takes just five minutes to make and it’s incredibly delicious!
Pesto is the perfect partner for a quick pasta dish, but you can also use it as a dip for flatbreads and crackers, as a spread for sandwiches or a sauce for a gluten-free pizza. You can easily personalize this pesto by experimenting with additional ingredients. (I personally add sundried tomatoes.)
For this recipe, I’m going to keep it fairly classic with a lemon basil pesto.
No pesto’s truly complete without the basil that gives pesto its signature taste. But this herb is more than just tasty, it’s also chock-full of health-boosting nutrients. Basil’s got:
- blood-building folate and iron;
- antioxidant, skin health-boosting vitamins A and C;
- magnesium (nature’s mineral chill pill!); and
- anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids.
For an extra dose of super healthy plant-based omega-3s, I’ve used hemp hearts instead of the pine nuts you’ll usually find in pesto. I love adding hemp to my recipes. Hemp hearts are shelled hemp seeds and they’re a great way to add blood-sugar balancing healthy fats. You’ll find me using hemp hearts in everything from my Vanilla Chai Truffles , to Spicy Hot Chocolate , to Sweet Pea and Mint Dip .
Snacks
Lemon Basil Pesto
PrintIngredients
- 2 cups fresh spinach (loosely packed)
- Juice from 1 lemon
- 1/2 cup hemp hearts
- 1/2-1 garlic clove
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup fresh basil
- Pinch of sea salt to taste
- Add all ingredients to food processor (I use a mini one)
- Blitz to desired consistency
- Enjoy!
Give a taste test and add more of what ever your taste buds desire
What’s your go-to way to perk up a pasta or pizza? Let me know in the comments below!
20 thoughts on “Lemon Basil Pesto”
Going to try the pesto recipe! I make the raw cacao vegan balls all the time (surely a staple in our home).
I miss your recipe videos – guessing you’re very busy with your sweet baby these days!
Hi Dawn! Joy has been posting quite a few videos on her Youtube Channel lately! Feel free to subscribe for all the latest and greatest cooking videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsM2ZGIYFOniUak-i2snTVg
I hope you enjoy the pesto 🙂
Heather- Joyous Health team
Hi Joy, I am a newbe to your website but I love your recipes. Was wondering if your book is available in Kindle edition?
Lisa
Hi Lisa! Welcome and thanks for your lovely message 🙂 The book is available in a kindle edition. Here’s the link: http://www.joyoushealth.com/joyous-health-book/ Have a joyous day!
Heather- Joyous Health team
Your lemon basil pesto talks about basil but yet the recipe calls for spinach???
Hi Connie! The recipe calls for basil as well. Feel free to use additional basil in place of the spinach if you prefer, but we think it’s tasty this way 🙂
Heather- Joyous Health Team
Hi! This recipe sounds awesome – how long do you think it lasts in the fridge?
It’s delicious! About 5 days in the fridge. Enjoy!
Do you ever use hemp powder instead of hearts? Thanks! Xoxo
I sure do! My daughter loves it in her smoothies too.
Is this freezable? I make Broccoli “pesto” and defrost when I make Banza pasta for my toddler!
Yes totally! Freeze in little ice cubes 🙂 Enjoy!
I’m unable to eat spinach … can you suggest a replacement for that in this recipe?
For sure, you could use kale instead or just increase the basil and simply omit the spinach.
My fave pizza is a gf crust topped with pesto (yours forever more) mushrooms, marinated artichoke hearts, garlic topped off with moz cheese. Once out of the oven a little crumble of goat cheese.
Mmm, that sounds so delicious!!
I like that this doesn’t include pine nuts. Mostly because pine nuts are so much $$$$.
Do you find this pesto tastes much different from traditional pesto?
I’ve been eating it for so long I couldn’t even tell you other than to say it’s delicious! And yes I agree 100%, pine nuts are expensive and there are many great substitutions.
Any suggestion for a substitute for the hemp hearts?
Any other nut or seed will work – ie sunflower seeds, walnuts, pine nuts