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    Recipes » Sauce

    Spicy Pesto

    Published: Jun 12, 2017 · Updated: Jan 31, 2019 · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Make this tasty and budget friendly Spicy Pesto to add excitement to meals and help prevent food waste

    Spicy Pesto from Living Well Kitchen

    Summer is always so kind to my budget since many of the fruits and veggies I love so much are in season in the summer.

    Makes my heart and budget happy!

    The only problem I have is when need an ingredient but have plans to use a little bit while the store only offers it in a large bag.

    [clickToTweet tweet="Make this tasty, budget friendly Spicy Pesto to add excitement to meals + help prevent food waste" quote="Make this tasty, budget friendly Spicy Pesto to add excitement to meals + help prevent food waste"]

    Spicy Pesto from Living Well Kitchen

    Take basil for example.

    When I made Cold Veggie Pizza the other day, I only needed about 1/4 cup of basil. But Trader Joe's sells huge bags of basil. What to do with all my extra basil?

    Make pesto, duh!

    Spicy Pesto from Living Well Kitchen

    However, many pestos can get a little pricey when you include pine nuts and parmesan cheese. So to keep it easy on my wallet, I used cheddar and walnuts.

    Then to help ensure it has flavor, I added an extra jalapeño from a bag that I had purchased to make salsa and didn't want the extra jalapeños to go to waste.

    Spicy Pesto from Living Well Kitchen

    This turned out delicious. Full of flavor, and ready to add pizzazz to all the great options you have for using pesto.

    I am so happy that I have it in my freezer ready to make pasta, pizza, salmon, and more when I get home from my summer "vacation" (i.e. visiting my family to test recipes with my grandmother for the cookbook we are making together).

    Spicy Pesto from Living Well Kitchen

    Spicy Pesto

    Make this tasty and budget friendly Spicy Pesto to add excitement to meals and help prevent food waste.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Rate
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes
    Servings: 7
    Author: Meme

    Ingredients

    • 5 cups fresh basil
    • 1 clove garlic chopped
    • 1 medium jalapeño chopped
    • 1/4 cup walnuts
    • 1/3 cup cheddar cheese about 1.5 oz
    • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
    • 1/4 teaspoon salt
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Add the basil, garlic and jalapeño to a mini food processor.
    • Blend until everything is chopped together.
    • Add in walnuts, cheese and salt. Pulse until incorporated.
    • Pour in olive oil and pulse until it is smooth or to your desired consistency.

    Notes

    *Discard seeds and/or stems in jalapeño for a more mild pesto
    *Makes 7/8 cup pesto
    Did you try this recipe?Be sure to leave a comment & recipe rating below. Bonus points for tagging @memeinge & #livingwellkitchen on Instagram! THANK YOU! xo

    [showhide type="post" more_text="Click here for Nutrition Facts" less_text="Clear Nutrition Facts"]
    *

    Nutrition Facts
    Spicy Pesto
    Serving Size
     
    2 tablespoons
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    122
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    12
    g
    18
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    13
    %
    Cholesterol
     
    5
    mg
    2
    %
    Sodium
     
    117
    mg
    5
    %
    Potassium
     
    80
    mg
    2
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    1
    g
    0
    %
    Fiber
     
    0
    g
    0
    %
    Sugar
     
    0
    g
    0
    %
    Protein
     
    2
    g
    4
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    975
    IU
    20
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    6.1
    mg
    7
    %
    Calcium
     
    73
    mg
    7
    %
    Iron
     
    0.7
    mg
    4
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    *
    [/showhide]

    What to use in this recipe:


    Meme

    Doesn't this recipe look good?! You should probably pin it for later:

    Spicy Pesto recipe from @memeinge uses budget friendly ingredients, so you can enjoy this flavorful sauce that adds excitement to your meals without breaking the bank. Gluten free, vegetarian recipe that helps prevent food waste. Freezes well

    « Blueberry Basil Bourbon Cocktail
    Blue Cheese, Caramelized Onion, Arugula Burger »
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    Welcome!

    Meme (a brunette female) is holding umbrella and spinning around in front of the Eiffel Tower wearing a denim jacket, skirt, and blue shoesHi, I'm Meme -- a thirty-something girl from Alabama living in San Diego! Join me as I prove that living a guilt-free, healthy lifestyle can be budget friendly, delicious & fun!
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