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This beet green pesto is the perfect way to use up all those pesky beet tops. Full of vitamins and minerals, it’s delicious on pasta, toasted bread, and even as a delicious topping for grilled meats.
This post may not be for everyone. I apologize.
However, this beet green pesto is really good, so you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover….or a recipe by its title. Beets are delicious, and their greens are even more delicious!
I was not in the mood for sautéed greens, so I used these bad boys in pesto.
Pesto is the best because you can throw almost any green vegetable or herb, cheese, and nut in a food processor, add some oil, and boom, you have pesto. I used blanched beet greens, a little basil, garlic, toasted hazelnuts, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and olive oil for this pesto.
The pesto was earthy and paired lovely with pasta, which is how I served it.
I thought the pesto pasta was delicious, but I won’t lie. Art didn’t enjoy the dish. He said, “There is nothing wrong with the pesto; I just don’t think this pesto is my thing.”
I’m pretty certain it’s because no matter how hard you try, beets have a bit of earthiness that some people love and others don’t. Me? I LOVE it! My husband? Nope.
You can’t win them all, am I right?
Looking for even more pesto recipes? Try my Garlic Scape Pesto, Grilled Lamb Chops with Pistachio Mint Pesto, Turkey Cranberry Pesto Panini, Pesto Chicken Caprese Pasta, Pesto Tuna Baguette Sandwich or my Grilled Chicken Pesto Panini
Beet Green Pesto
Ingredients
- 6 Beet greens, from 6 beets
- 1/2 cup lightly packed fresh basil leaves
- 1 clove garlic
- 1/2 cup toasted hazelnuts
- 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
- 3/4 cup olive oil, more or less depending on taste and texture
- Kosher salt
- Fresh cracked pepper
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to a boil on the stovetop.
- To blanch greens you simply cut away any woody stems and just use the green portion of the stems. Wash thoroughly and set aside. Get a large pot and put it on the stove until boiling. Set another large bowl full of ice water next to the stove. Add greens to boiling water, leave in for 10 seconds, remove and immediately put into ice water. Then drain. Blanching helps soften the beet greens without losing the color.
- Drain and squeeze any access water out of the greens.
- Add the greens, basil garlic and hazelnuts to a blender or food processor.
- Process for just a few seconds to start breaking down the nuts and greens. Add Parmigiano-Reggiano and stream in olive oil till desired consistency is reached. Season with kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I am loving this! I am seeing more and more pestos from all kinds of different greens! Last night I made one from avocado and arugula with toasted almonds and Parmesan. Now I want to try this one. Thanks for showing us another great pesto. So much easier than sauteing it!
Great idea! I have been swamped in greens from my CSA this year and never would have thought of throwing them in a pesto. I will be trying this immediately 🙂
I love versatile recipes like pesto! Its so nice to be able to just switch things up based on what you have on hand! I never thought to use something like beet greens. It always bums me out when I love a recipe and Josh gives it just an ehhhh. They clearly don’t have wonderful taste like we do 😉
I think this looks really good! I love seeing and learning new things
Looks good to me! I love beets 🙂
Look at you getting all healthy on us!! I have never made pesto with beet greens but now I must 🙂
Love that you used the beet greens in this pesto. I’ve been trying to use all sorts of tops and bottoms this summer from vegetables in my CSA Box, including carrot tops, turnip tops and cauliflower leaves. Waste not want not, it’s all healthy too!
Great idea! Now I know what to do with that bunch I just bought. Thanks so much!
What a creative use of beet greens! You go, girl!
I am totally going to try this asap. I am starting to work with beets more now…would love this!