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    Home » Sauces and condiments

    Keto pesto with walnuts

    Published: Aug 14, 2020 · Updated: May 5, 2021 by Anna · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads ·

    Jump to Recipe

    This keto pesto with walnuts is made from fresh ingredients in only 5 minutes. It's so flavorful and quick to make that it will become your favorite pesto sauce recipe of all time!

    Freshly made basil pesto with walnuts and parmesan cheese in a small white bowl, basil leaves, garlic, sprinkles of black pepper and salt are lying around.
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients you will need
    • Step by step instructions
    • Is pesto keto
    • Can you freeze pesto
    • More keto recipes
    • Recipe

    Ingredients you will need

    Fresh basil leaves - we're going to use a bunch of fresh and fragrant basil leaves for our gluten-free basil pesto with walnuts recipe.

    Olive oil – I can’t imagine an Italian recipe without olive oil. However, there are so many types and each will give your pesto sauce a different character. I use mild olive in this recipe because that’s what I prefer, but if you want to give your pesto a spicy/bitter kick, go ahead and use extra virgin olive oil.

    Walnuts – There are several reasons I chose walnuts over traditional pine nuts for my pesto recipe with basil. First, pine nuts are pricey! I love my keto pesto and I eat it a lot, but I definitely don't want to spend a fortune on it. Second, walnuts are more keto-oriented than pine nuts; they have more fats and less net carbs.

    Parmesan cheese - No cheating! Use a real shredded Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.

    Garlic -  We're going to use two freshly peeled and pressed cloves of garlic. 

    Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper  - Don't be shy and season your keto pesto well.

    Lemon juice - To use or not to use? It's totally optional, my friends. You can take a more traditional approach when it comes to this walnut pesto recipe, or you can be a little bit innovative and add 2 teaspoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice to break those bold flavors with a pinch of acidity. Also, if you're planning to freeze the sauce, it's a good idea to add lemon juice or vinegar to prevent the growth of botulism. 

    Step by step instructions

    This delicious and easy basil walnut pesto recipe is pretty straightforward to make. We'll need one piece of equipment - a food processor (another way is to use a mortar, but we’ll take convenience over authenticity this time). 

    First, let's place our basil leaves, walnuts, pressed garlic, and seasoning into the food processor and pulse it until it’s fully combined and resembles a grainy paste texture. Then, add the cheese and pulse several times until fully incorporated.

    Step by step 4 images collage picture on how to make keto pesto with walnuts.

    Now we only have one ingredient left - olive oil. Add it to the mixture and pulse until combined. Add some extra olive oil, one tablespoon at a time, if the sauce is too thick for your taste. Last but not least, you should try your basil pesto sauce and adjust the seasoning if desired. Don't forget to add two teaspoons of lemon juice and pulse a couple more times if you're planning to freeze the mixture.

    You can serve the sauce right away and, if there're leftovers left (which I doubt), store them in a sterile airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. 

    Is pesto keto

    One hundred times yes! This pesto walnut recipe uses only keto-friendly ingredients that are full of healthy fats and proteins. It's also very low in carbs; only 1g net carb per serving. You can definitely enjoy this pesto with walnuts while following a keto diet.

    Can you freeze pesto

    Yes, you can! If you have leftovers or you're planning to make our walnut pesto ahead and use it later, place the pesto sauce into a Ziplock bag, remove as much air as possible, and freeze it for up to 3 months. Before using our low-carb pesto, remove from the freezer and thaw overnight in the fridge before serving the next day.

    Close up shot of a white round bowl full of green basil pesto with a silver spoon inside, fresh basil leaves, darkish and salt lying around.

    More keto recipes

    INSTANT KETO MAYONNAISE

    HOMEMADE SUGAR-FREE CRANBERRY SAUCE

    KETO NUTELLA CHOCOLATE SPREAD

    Recipe

    White round ceramic bowl filled with keto basil pesto standing on a grey working top, fresh basil leaves, garlic and sprinkles of salt are lying around.

    Keto pesto with walnuts

    This keto pesto with walnuts is made from fresh ingredients in only 5 minutes. It's so flavorful and quick to make that it will become your favorite pesto sauce recipe of all time!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Sauces and condiments
    Cuisine: Italian
    Keyword: Easy pesto, Keto sauce, Pesto sauce recipe
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 254kcal

    Equipment

    • Food processor or a stand blender

    Ingredients

    • 2 cup (30g) fresh basil
    • ½ cup (60g) walnuts
    • 2 cloves garlic, pressed
    • ½ cup (60g) Parmigiano Reggiano, grated
    • ½ cup (100g) mild olive oil
    • ½ teaspoon sea salt
    • Grounded black pepper
    • 2 teaspoon lemon juice, optional

    Instructions

    • Place the basil leaves, walnuts, pressed garlic, and seasoning in a food processor and pulse until fully combined and resembling a grainy paste texture.
    • Then, add the cheese and pulse several times until fully incorporated.
    • Add the olive oil to the mixture and pulse until well combined. Add some extra olive oil, one tablespoon at a time, if the sauce is too thick for your taste. Adjust seasoning if needed.
    • Serve right away!

    Notes

    NET CARB: 1g
    Store in a sterile airtight container in a fridge for up to 3 days.
    If you’re planning to freeze your pesto, make this recipe adding optional lemon juice to prevent the growth of botulism.
    Freeze in a clean Ziplock bag for up to 3 months.
    Nutrition Facts
    Keto pesto with walnuts
    Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
    Calories 254 Calories from Fat 234
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 26g40%
    Carbohydrates 2g1%
    Fiber 1g4%
    Sugar 0.5g1%
    Protein 5g10%
    Vitamin A 344IU7%
    Vitamin C 1mg1%
    Calcium 139mg14%
    Iron 0.5mg3%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    This website, https://heretocook.com, offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site. This information is provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is a product of online calculators such as Cronometer.com and MyFitnesPal.com

    Tried this recipe?Mention @heretocook or tag #heretocook!

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    Comments

    1. Anastasia

      April 01, 2021 at 9:41 am

      5 stars
      I never thought it would be so simple to make your own pesto. I serve it with baked chicken thighs and it tastes a-mazing!

      Reply
      • Anna

        April 01, 2021 at 10:38 am

        I serve it with chicken too!

        Reply

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