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.”
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Avocado Basil Pesto
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.
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Mmmm! Avocados in anything makes me VERY VERY excited!
GiGi Eats recently posted…Crushing On A Cuisine
Well good Gigi, then this one’s for you, enjoy!
Cheaper, healthier – and it looks really delicious – and it looks SO easy for even a challenged person such as myself to make! 🙂
LOL, depending on the day, we all feel challenged at times Andrea. No cooking with this one, thanks and enjoy!
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 🙂
Oh thank you Kerry, please enjoy this one for us!
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This sounds even better than normal pesto I love the idea of adding an avocado to the pesto mix how delicious!
It’s super good Ana! Thank you.
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
Come back and rate it after you’ve tried it Angie, thanks!
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!
It was meant to be, Ana! Though save some avocados for the guacamole, too! Yum!
I’d love to try this. I love pesto and that avocado flavor sounds amazing. This is a great idea!
Thanks Liz, there are so many fun ways to enjoy avocado!
This looks good. I love avocado anything these days. I doubt it would last long enough to get brown at my house!
Oh good Bella, enjoy and thank you.
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
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Great to hear Denisa, thanks for letting us know!
Omigosh that sandwich sounds fabulous! I love a good pesto and have never thought to do it with avocado. It’s genius!
Thanks so much Jenna!
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 🙂
Oh good, it really is delicious on pasta. Let us know what you think!
Love the idea of combining Avocado with basil and less oil. Looks delicious creamy and wonderfully healthy.
It its Amrita, enjoy!
It’s a shame the avocado goes brown so quickly, definitely something better suited to a party or event for one of the dips!
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!
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!
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.
We’re giving you a really fun recipe that pairs well with this pesto. Be sure to check it out!
I love basil and I love avocado I would love to try this pesto thanks for the pesto
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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!
Enjoy Jessica!
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!
Try placing them in a brown paper bag to ripen more quickly Tiina. It really does work!!
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
Enjoy Kusum!
I love avocado and I love pesto! So, this is a great combination. I am sure this will become one of my favorite recipes! Thank you!
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Wow what a yummy recipe! I’ll definitely be making this over a plate of vegetables and pasta. Thanks!
Thanks Jennifer! Yes, that is the perfect place for the pesto!
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.
So glad you like it, thanks!
I love how cheap and quick this is to make. Seen a lot about pesto and avocado recently. Delicious
Enjoy the great fresh summer flavors Lily!
what a great idea to mix pesto and avocados! I’ll have to share this with my folks!
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My daughter doesn’t like avocado but love bed guacamole so maybe she’d like this too! Will have to give it a go!
We are anxious to hear how she likes it Andrea!
Looks yummy. Would be great as a dip 🙂 Ineed to try this
Thanks so much Teky,so nice to have you here too!