Making Basil Walnut Pesto: A Prelude to Tomato Basil Soup

walnuts

🥗Healthier: pine nuts

💰Cheaper: sunflower seeds

Pine nuts offer a similar flavor, while sunflower seeds are budget-friendly.

parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: pecorino cheese

Nutritional yeast is dairy-free, while pecorino is often less expensive.

Toast walnuts in a skillet or oven and let cool.

Peel and pulse garlic in a food processor.

Blend walnuts until finely chopped.

Add basil leaves to the food processor.

Add lemon zest and lemon juice to the mixture.

Pulse everything together well.

Drizzle in olive oil while blending until desired consistency is reached.

Add parmesan cheese and stir it in or pulse to combine.

Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens