Homemade Paleo Pesto

I like to eat pretty simply. And as a creature of habit, I keep it easy for lunch and dinner-quality meat and veggies. Sometimes a grilled chicken breast can feel so “blah” after a while. Sprucing up my Paleo dinner with my Homemade Paleo Pesto makes dinner more exciting!

Most pestos call for pine nuts and parmesan. While pine nuts are delicious, they can be insanely expensive, sometimes up to $16 for one pound! I like to replace pine nuts with other nuts and seeds like walnuts or sunflower seeds. You still get the same nutty and creamy taste, while saving your paycheck.

I find my Homemade Paleo Pesto doesn’t need any cheese…you still get plenty of flavor without it. I love it on top of grilled chicken, a burger, Paleo-friendly pizza or to dip my carrots in it! You could also try it in my Grain-Free Fettucine recipe. 

I hope this simple recipe can revamp your dinner routine! Let me know your thoughts if you make it and in the meantime be sure to check out my 5 Week Weight Loss and Detox Plan available for purchase NOW!

Homemade Paleo Pesto

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup of fresh basil

1/2 cup of arugula (spinach or kale work well too!)

1/4 cup of walnuts or sunflower seeds

2-3 cloves of peeled garlic

Juice of 1 lemon

2-3 tbsp. of olive oil

1 tsp. of Himalayan salt

1 tsp. of pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place all ingredients except olive oil in a high-speed blender or food processor

2. Blend on low while running a slow drizzle of olive oil into the blender

3. Mix until all ingredients are well combined

Yields about 1 cup of pesto 

Homemade Paleo Vegan Pesto