Description
This Spinach Lemon Pesto is a quick and easy homemade pesto sauce made with fresh spinach, lemon, Parmesan, and olive oil. Ready in 10 minutes and perfect for pasta, chicken, seafood, and sandwiches.
Ingredients
Units Scale
- 3 cups fresh spinach, packed
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves (optional but nice for balance)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup nuts (pine nuts, walnuts, or almonds)
- Juice of 1/2-1 lemon (start small, add more to taste)
- 1/2 cup olive oil (plus more as needed)
- 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Add spinach, basil, nuts, garlic, lemon zest, and Parmesan to a blender or food processor. Pulse until finely chopped.
- With the machine running, slowly drizzle in olive oil until smooth and creamy.
- Add lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Blend again.
- Taste and adjust. Want more brightness? Add lemon. Want it richer? Add a little more cheese or olive oil.
Notes
Don’t skip the lemon zest. It makes a huge difference.
Toast your nuts for deeper flavor if you have the time.
Reserve a little pasta water when tossing with noodles. It helps the pesto cling perfectly.
If it tastes flat, it probably needs salt or more lemon. Not more oil.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
