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Avocado Pistachio Pesto

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★★★★★★★★★★
4.4 stars, average of 53 ratings
By Martina Slajerova, updated October 9 20238
This post may contain affiliate links, see our disclaimer.
Jump to Recipe Rate Recipe

Avocado Pistachio PestoPin itFollow us 148.4k

I always enjoy making my own pesto and experimenting with different ingredients. All you need is a blender, nuts or seeds, herbs and healthy oils. I've been making my own pesto for many years. It helps me avoid all the unnecessary additives found in commonly available products, it's cheaper, and best of all, using keto-friendly pesto in your everyday cooking is an easy way to boost your electrolyte intake! Keep in mind, pesto itself won't be enough and you'll still need to eat foods such as salmon, spinach or avocado.

Although it's a common ingredient in pasta dishes, you can be creative and include it in your low-carb diet. Add it to "zoodles" to create flavourful recipes with just a few ingredients. Depending on your choice of herbs, you can try it on top of cooked fish or meat. Basil goes great with any fish and poultry, cilantro and rosemary with lamb, and parsley is perfect with pork or beef.

You can even use it as a dip with freshly cut vegetables and even in salads, where it adds a wonderful flavour. Here are a couple of my recipes with home-made pesto: Caprese Skewers and Quick Beef Ragù with "Zoodles".

You can keep your pesto in the fridge for up to a week or two if it's stored properly. It helps to pour a thin layer of olive oil on the top, as it keeps it fresh for longer. Whenever you use pesto, always remember to add a thin layer of olive oil on the top. If you want to preserve home-made pesto for longer, freeze it in manageable portion sizes by putting it in an ice-cube tray and keep in a bag in the freezer for up to 6 months. Whenever you need to use it, just keep the required portion at room temperature until it melts

0 days, 0 hours, 0 minutes

Hands-on 5 minutes Overall 5 minutes

Serving size 1 tbsp, 15 ml

Allergy information for Avocado Pistachio Pesto

✔  Gluten free
✔  Dairy free
✔  Egg free
✔  Nightshade free
✔  Pork free
✔  Coconut free
✔  Fish free
✔  Shellfish free
✔  Beef free
Pescatarian
Vegetarian

Nutritional values (per 1 tbsp, 15 ml)

Net carbs0.5 grams
Protein0.5 grams
Fat5.6 grams
Calories55 kcal
Calories from carbs 4%, protein 4%, fat 92%
Total carbs1.2 gramsFiber0.7 gramsSugars0.2 gramsSaturated fat0.7 gramsSodium83 mg(4% RDA)Magnesium5 mg(1% RDA)Potassium61 mg(3% EMR)

Ingredients (makes about 400 g /14 oz)

  • 1 large avocado (200 g/ 7.1 oz)
  • 3 cups fresh basil (18 g/ 0.6 oz)
  • 1/3 cup pistachio nuts, unsalted (41 g/ 1.4 oz)
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice (30 ml)
  • 3 cloves garlic, sliced
  • 1/2 cup avocado oil or extra virgin olive oil (120 ml/ 4 fl oz)
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • Optional: 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (30 g/ 1.1 oz)

Instructions

  1. Halve and peel the avocado and remove the seed. Wash the basil, peel and mash the garlic and juice the lemon. Place the avocado, basil, garlic, lemon juice, pistachio nuts and oil into a food processor and pulse until smooth.
    Avocado Pistachio Pesto
  2. Season with salt and add more to taste if needed. It may also help if you soak the pistachios for 1-2 hours before blending. Otherwise, let it sit for at least an hour to allow the nuts to soften. This will help create a soft and creamy texture. Avocado Pistachio Pesto
  3. When done, use immediately or spoon the mixture in a glass jar, top with a bit of avocado or olive oil and seal properly with a lid. Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
    Avocado Pistachio Pesto

Avocado Pistachio Pesto
Step by Step

★★★★★★★★★★
4.4 stars, average of 53 ratings
Avocado Pistachio Pesto
Easy homemade pesto made with fragrant herbs and healthy fats. A simple recipe made with creamy avocados, olive oil, basil, pistachio nuts, lemon and garlic.
Hands on5m
Overall5m
Servings28
Calories55 kcal
Pin it

Ingredients

  • 1 large avocado (200 g/ 7.1 oz)
  • 3 cups fresh basil (18 g/ 0.6 oz)
  • 1/3 cup pistachio nuts, unsalted (41 g/ 1.4 oz)
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice (30 ml)
  • 3 cloves garlic, sliced
  • 1/2 cup avocado oil or extra virgin olive oil (120 ml/ 4 fl oz)
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • Optional: 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (30 g/ 1.1 oz)

Instructions

  1. Halve and peel the avocado and remove the seed. Wash the basil, peel and mash the garlic and juice the lemon. Place the avocado, basil, garlic, lemon juice, pistachio nuts and oil into a food processor and pulse until smooth.
  2. Season with salt and add more to taste if needed. It may also help if you soak the pistachios for 1-2 hours before blending. Otherwise, let it sit for at least an hour to allow the nuts to soften. This will help create a soft and creamy texture.
  3. When done, use immediately or spoon the mixture in a glass jar, top with a bit of avocado or olive oil and seal properly with a lid. Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Nutrition (per 1 tbsp, 15 ml)

Calories55kcal
Net Carbs0.5g
Carbohydrates1.2g
Protein0.5g
Fat5.6g
Saturated Fat0.7g
Fiber0.7g
Sugar0.2g
Sodium83mg
Magnesium5mg
Potassium61mg

Detailed nutritional breakdown (per 1 tbsp, 15 ml)

Net carbsProteinFatCalories
Total per 1 tbsp, 15 ml
0.5 g0.5 g5.6 g55 kcal
Avocado, fresh
0.1 g0.1 g1.1 g11 kcal
Basil, fresh
0 g0 g0 g0 kcal
Pistachio nuts, unsalted
0.2 g0.3 g0.7 g8 kcal
Garlic, fresh
0.1 g0 g0 g0 kcal
Lemon (juice), fresh
0.1 g0 g0 g0 kcal
Oil, avocado
0 g0 g3.9 g34 kcal
Salt, pink Himalayan rock salt
0 g0 g0 g0 kcal

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Martina Slajerova
Creator of KetoDietApp.com

Martina Slajerova

I changed the way I ate in 2011, when I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid. I had no energy, and I found it more and more difficult to maintain a healthy weight.

That’s when I decided to quit sugar, grains, and processed foods, and to start following a whole-foods-based ketogenic approach to food.

More posts by Martina Slajerova
Martina Slajerova
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Comments (8)

Joie 8 years ago # Reply
9/18/2016 11:43:17 PM

This pesto is so good! I make it often, exactly as it is written here. I use it on zoodles and as a wrap spread. Mixed with tomato sauce is also delicious on pasta. Thank you!!

Martina @ KetoDiet 8 years ago # Reply
9/19/2016 10:44:07 AM

Thank you Joie, I'm glad you like it! 😊

Trish 8 years ago # Reply
7/18/2016 7:05:17 PM

Do you add the avocado with the other ingredients to the food processor?

Martina @ KetoDiet 8 years ago # Reply
7/19/2016 12:18:31 PM

Yes, well spotted - thank you!

Liu 10 years ago # Reply
6/21/2014 2:16:08 PM

I have to try this! I'm confused and wanted to ask you something. Is dairy supposed to be paleo? I see that some recipes use it and some don't allow it. Thanks!

Martina @ KetoDiet 10 years ago # Reply
6/25/2014 11:09:11 AM

Hi Liu, it depends. I personally use the terms paleo/primal interchangeably (and many other bloggers do) and try to give dairy free options when possible. However, some bloggers and book authors distinguish between those two. The term "paleo" excludes, while "primal" includes raw dairy.

annmarie 10 years ago # Reply
6/19/2014 9:59:57 AM

I love pesto, made mine with macadamia nuts, basil, parsley garlic and lemon. I eat it on top of salmon or cod. It makes everything taste so much better!

Martina @ KetoDiet 10 years ago # Reply
6/20/2014 11:51:10 AM

I agree! Macadamia nuts are very keto-friendly and full of healthy fats. I used them in my other recipe (Red pesto) 😊

Martina Slajerova

Looking for healthy low-carb and keto recipes? We've got you covered!

I'm Martina, a x10 cookbook author, top rated keto diet app creator, recipe developer, food photographer, writer, and a firm believer in low-carb living.

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