Avocado Basil Pesto

Avocado Basil Pesto

Heart-healthy and rich, Avocado Basil Pesto is a fabulous sauce you will use in so many ways!

Unlike most pestos, it uses less oil thanks to the creamy consistency of the avocado.  Try it with pasta, veggies, as a dip, and slather as a sandwich spread.  I also like to thin it a little and use it as a delicious fresh dressing on salads.

Almost as much as the taste, I love that I can make it in 5 minutes for about $5.00.  My only caution is that it turns brown as it ages and so I usually don’t make it in large amounts, just enough to enjoy in a day or two.

 

 

“Pesto is the quiche of the 80s.”

Nora Ephron

Creamy heart-healthy Avocado Basil Pesto is a sauce you can toss with pasta, dip into with your favorite veggies, spread on sandwiches, or dress your salads. It's perfectly delicious for about $5 in 5 minutes!

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Avocado Basil Pesto

Avocado Basil Pesto - cheerykitchen.com

Traditional Italian pesto is made strictly with basil, pine nuts, Parmesan, garlic, and good olive oil. It’s a classic sauce. However you can switch out the basil for another handy herb or leafy green, replace the pine nuts with a different favorite nut, or swap the Parmesan for pecorino or asiago.  In my pesto, I replaced some of the oil and the cheese with creamy avocado. Here’s the basic formula; green + nuts + cheese + olive oil, but be daring and creative with what you like!

Pesto is a generic term for anything that is made by pounding, and yes, you can create Avocado Basil Pesto with a mortar and pestle. My question is why would you when you can make it in a 11-cup food processor or blender in no time flat? 

Combine avocado, (love this cool tool), basil, pine nuts, and garlic in a food processor or blender. With the machine running, slowly stream in the lemon juice, olive oil, and water if needed to achieve a smooth pesto. Puree until completely blended and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Use immediately or keep refrigerated for 1-2 days.

About The Author

Renée

Renée is passionate about making and sharing ALL things delicious! Her happy place really is her kitchen where she loves whipping up memories with her family and friends. Raised in sunny Southern California she's spent her adulthood in Idaho, both sides of her great state. She's married to an amazing man, and together they have 5 children, who gave them five more, and now they have 28 grandchildren. So there’s always a reason to cook and celebrate around their place!

48 Comments

    • Renée

      Well good Gigi, then this one’s for you, enjoy!

      Reply
  1. Andrea

    Cheaper, healthier – and it looks really delicious – and it looks SO easy for even a challenged person such as myself to make! 🙂

    Reply
    • Renée

      LOL, depending on the day, we all feel challenged at times Andrea. No cooking with this one, thanks and enjoy!

      Reply
  2. Kerry

    Another amazing recipe! Love avacados and they fit in well with my diet, will be trying this for sure. Have passed so many of your recipes on to my mum, when her kitchen is finished I will let you know how she gets on with making them herself 🙂

    Reply
  3. Ana De- Jesus

    This sounds even better than normal pesto I love the idea of adding an avocado to the pesto mix how delicious!

    Reply
    • Renée

      It’s super good Ana! Thank you.

      Reply
  4. angie

    my kids love both avocados and pesto, I think this would be a big hit perfect for so many things from lunch to more formal dinner

    Reply
    • Renée

      Come back and rate it after you’ve tried it Angie, thanks!

      Reply
  5. Ana

    Can you believe that last night I bought Avocados for making Guacamole but now I’ll try Avocado Basil Pesto for a change. Thanks for sharing the recipe!

    Reply
    • Alison

      It was meant to be, Ana! Though save some avocados for the guacamole, too! Yum!

      Reply
  6. Liz Mays

    I’d love to try this. I love pesto and that avocado flavor sounds amazing. This is a great idea!

    Reply
    • Renée

      Thanks Liz, there are so many fun ways to enjoy avocado!

      Reply
  7. Bella B (xoxoBella)

    This looks good. I love avocado anything these days. I doubt it would last long enough to get brown at my house!

    Reply
    • Renée

      Oh good Bella, enjoy and thank you.

      Reply
  8. Denisa

    there is a difference in flavor and texture between food processor and mortar and pestle. Love your avocado pesto recipe, I made it yesterday , used as spread for pesto tofetta Panini . Delicious. Thank you for sharing
    Denisa recently posted…Sincere Apologies for my InattentivenessMy Profile

    Reply
    • Renée

      Great to hear Denisa, thanks for letting us know!

      Reply
  9. Jenna

    Omigosh that sandwich sounds fabulous! I love a good pesto and have never thought to do it with avocado. It’s genius!

    Reply
    • Renée

      Thanks so much Jenna!

      Reply
  10. Laura H

    I had no idea that pesto meant anything that had been pounded like that! Pesto is my favourite pasta sauce so I’m sure I’d love the addition of avocado 🙂

    Reply
    • Renée

      Oh good, it really is delicious on pasta. Let us know what you think!

      Reply
  11. Amrita

    Love the idea of combining Avocado with basil and less oil. Looks delicious creamy and wonderfully healthy.

    Reply
    • Renée

      It its Amrita, enjoy!

      Reply
  12. freya Farrington

    It’s a shame the avocado goes brown so quickly, definitely something better suited to a party or event for one of the dips!

    Reply
    • Renée

      Freya, It works great for parties, it just doesn’t last for days in the fridge. My suggestion is do not make more than you will need!

      Reply
  13. roxy

    5 mins and $5 dollars?! I clearly need to go to the store RIGHT now! Anything with avocado or pesto is a must-try in book. I’d love to try this on a sandwich or in pasta!

    Reply
  14. Barely Vegan

    This is such a great idea and I think I have all of the ingredients in my fridge right now! I’ll be trying this out for sure.

    Reply
    • Renée

      We’re giving you a really fun recipe that pairs well with this pesto. Be sure to check it out!

      Reply
  15. Jessica

    I’ve only recently started using avocado in place of oils/other fats in recipes – really loving it! Definitely going to have to give this a try!

    Reply
    • Renée

      Enjoy Jessica!

      Reply
  16. Tiina A

    Cannot live without avocados! It’s such a pity that here where I live it’s very seldom that you can buy ripened ones, always too hard and takes some time to get them softer and ready to use. This pesto goes with everything, yummy!

    Reply
    • Renée

      Try placing them in a brown paper bag to ripen more quickly Tiina. It really does work!!

      Reply
  17. Kusum

    Haha great minds, love me some good avocado pesto! I can pretty much have it with anything, looks so delicious 🙂
    xx, Kusum | http://www.sveeteskapes.com

    Reply
    • Renée

      Enjoy Kusum!

      Reply
  18. Jennifer L. } Modern Chic

    Wow what a yummy recipe! I’ll definitely be making this over a plate of vegetables and pasta. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Alison

      Thanks Jennifer! Yes, that is the perfect place for the pesto!

      Reply
  19. The Graceful Mist

    You have great recipes. I read your older recipe and wanted to try it out. Although I can`t remember the last time I ate Avocado, I think this will taste great. I love that it has nuts.

    Reply
    • Renée

      So glad you like it, thanks!

      Reply
  20. Lily

    I love how cheap and quick this is to make. Seen a lot about pesto and avocado recently. Delicious

    Reply
    • Renée

      Enjoy the great fresh summer flavors Lily!

      Reply
  21. Andrea

    My daughter doesn’t like avocado but love bed guacamole so maybe she’d like this too! Will have to give it a go!

    Reply
    • Renée

      We are anxious to hear how she likes it Andrea!

      Reply
  22. Teky frost

    Looks yummy. Would be great as a dip 🙂 Ineed to try this

    Reply
    • Renée

      Thanks so much Teky,so nice to have you here too!

      Reply

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We're Alison and Renée, and we're so glad you've joined us! Our kitchens are our happy place, where we're whipping up memories. Get comfy and check things out. We hope you find inspiring dishes and ways to better your life. Feeling optimistic, trying new things and sharing with those we love brings joy in all we do. It's time to cook, create and celebrate. CHEERS! Read More…

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