Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1 cup cottage cheese (2% MF)
- 1½ to 2 cups basil (loosely packed)
- ¼ cup walnuts (or another nut)
- 3 cloves garlic
- ⅓ cup parmesan (freshly grated)
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- zest of 1 lemon
- salt and pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Gather 1 cup of 2% fat cottage cheese, 1½ to 2 cups of loosely packed fresh basil leaves, ¼ cup of walnuts (or your preferred nuts), 3 garlic cloves, ⅓ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, ⅓ cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, zest of one lemon, and salt and pepper to taste.
- Blend Ingredients: Add the cottage cheese, basil, walnuts, garlic cloves, parmesan, olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, and pepper to a food processor or high-speed blender. Blend until all ingredients are well combined and form a smooth yet slightly textured pesto.
- Serve or Store: Use the pesto immediately as a spread, dip, or sauce, or transfer it into an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Use fresh basil leaves for the best flavor. If unavailable, frozen basil can be a substitute but may alter the taste slightly.
- Walnuts can be replaced with pine nuts, almonds, or cashews depending on preference or availability.
- Adjust the amount of garlic according to your taste for more or less pungency.
- If the pesto is too thick, add a small splash of water or more olive oil to reach desired consistency.
- This pesto is great for spreading on sandwiches, mixing into pasta, or using as a dip for vegetables.
- Store in an airtight container and cover with a thin layer of olive oil to help preserve color and freshness.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Low Fat
