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Two Peas and Their Pod: Recipe for Basil Pesto without Nuts or "Pistou"

Friday, August 14, 2009

Recipe for Basil Pesto without Nuts or "Pistou"



We don't have a huge garden, but our herbs are growing like weeds. We have lemon verbena, rosemary, thai basil, and basil. My basil plants were full so I decided to make a batch of pesto to freeze.

Josh is allergic to nuts so I actually made a French "pistou," which is similar to pesto, but has no nuts. There are several variations of pistou, it usually has more garlic than basil. You can also make it with or without cheese. I wanted it to taste similar to pesto, so I just played around and made it to my taste:)

I used basil leaves, garlic, parmesan cheese, a little lemon juice, olive oil, and salt and pepper. I combined everything in my food processor and had pistou in seconds. I put the sauce in a container and put it in the freezer. Pistou and pesto freezes beautifully. I can't wait to use it on homemade pasta, pizza, or a panini! It is also good stirred into soups.



Basil Pesto without Nuts or "Pistou"


3 cups fresh basil leaves
2-3 cloves garlic
About 1/4 cup quality parmesan cheese, grated
Splash of fresh lemon juice
About 1/2 cup olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

1. In a food processor or blender, chop up the garlic until it is minced.
2. Add in the basil and cheese and start to blend. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while the machine is running. Blend until smooth.
3. Squeeze in a little lemon juice and add salt and pepper to taste.
4. Taste the sauce and adjust to your likings.
5. Put in a freezer container and freeze if you wish or use it right away.

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46 Comments:

Blogger Delicious Dishings said...

Ah... so that's the difference. I didn't realize that pistou didn't have nuts. I bet I would really enjoy this. Bookmarking the recipe! Looks delicious.

7:06 AM  
Blogger Gaby said...

LOVE IT! Pesto is my fav thing on earth! I eat it plain on a piece of toast when I am feeling lazy... I am making your recipe this weekend for sure!

7:25 AM  
Blogger CrystalsCozyKitchen said...

I am going to have to try this because I love basil, but when I made pesto, I realized that I don't really like pine nuts. But, silly me, I hadn't thought about making it without pine nuts! It may have occurred to me... in like 10 years.

7:56 AM  
Blogger Tracy said...

Excellent! As a person with nut allergies, I am all over this. ;-)

8:18 AM  
Blogger vanillasugarblog said...

yummy, I love this on warm pasta or warm baquette. looks so good Maria!

8:22 AM  
Blogger Erica said...

mmm sounds great! I love basil! I need to grow some next year.

8:34 AM  
Blogger Dolce said...

I love Pistou on pasta. Even on regular store bought spaghetti, that's a quick fixed lunch for the after party day. My mother usually makes it in a mortar but I guess a food processor is easier to handle !

8:38 AM  
Blogger The Fat Dietitian said...

I L-O-V-E pesto, and I actually prefer mine without nuts. Thanks for the recipe! :)

9:00 AM  
Blogger Jennifer said...

I adore pestp but have no made it without nuts! This is great and what I love the most is that you can freeze it!

9:28 AM  
Blogger Cookie baker Lynn said...

What a great way to save the summer taste of fresh basil. I wish my basil had done as well - does it help to water it?

9:34 AM  
Blogger Pam said...

I am anxious to try this...I love pesto and I am sure I would love this version.

10:03 AM  
Blogger LizNoVeggieGirl said...

Ooooh holy yum.

10:09 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I always have loved how beautiful it looks and it tastes awesome too! I would give anything for some herb plants. We really need to get into med school so I can have a garden!

11:05 AM  
Blogger PG said...

Interesting...I didn't know it was called pistou. I recently made a pistou because one of my guests was allergic to nuts. I couldn't really tell the difference between pistou and pesto.

12:08 PM  
Blogger Ingrid_3Bs said...

I've not tried making my own pesto. Which is really silly considering how much I like it and how ridiculously easy it is to make!

Happy Friday!
~ingrid

12:41 PM  
Blogger Jen L. said...

Looks great!

1:22 PM  
Blogger stephchows said...

Sounds great! My friend who has nut allergies uses tahini in her pesto to replace the nuts :)

1:28 PM  
Blogger Monica H said...

this would be delicious on a totellini salad- yum!

2:01 PM  
Blogger Katrina said...

Awesome. I didn't realize it had its own name. But that's cool that you can make pesto without nuts. I don't know what I'd do if someone in my house was allergic to nuts! ;)

2:11 PM  
Blogger NKP said...

Lovely pistou! I wish my basil was as effulgent as yours!

2:39 PM  
Blogger Barbara Bakes said...

Great idea! I've got lots of basil I need to use too!

3:34 PM  
Blogger Esi said...

Sounds great and a good alternative to pesto!

3:36 PM  
Blogger Leslie said...

yay! thanks!
jamie's also deathly allergic and i'm grateful for a non-nut version this friday. happy weekend!

4:14 PM  
Blogger Live.Love.Eat said...

Very nice! I love me some basil!!!!!

5:16 PM  
Blogger Amy I. said...

Looks delicious, Maria! I had never heard of pistou. Last time I made pesto it was a little too nutty, so I'll definitely be trying this next time. Don't you love those little white ramekins? I use them for everything :)

5:19 PM  
Blogger Adam said...

Congrats on the domain change... that's pretty exciting :)

And speaking of exciting, a pesto chicken sandwich sounds about awesome right about now!

6:24 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Nothing beats fresh Pesto or Pistou. I really need to make some of this. There are so many great ways to use it! (I just wish my basil had survived)

7:25 PM  
Blogger Daziano said...

Pistou is really good, I had it in southern France once and I loved it!

8:30 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I had no idea you could make pesto without nuts. Thanks for sharing!

12:17 AM  
Blogger Heather said...

This would make the whole recipe less expensive as well - as nuts usually cost more. I've also made pesto with Almonds instead of pine nuts.

4:49 AM  
Blogger pigpigscorner said...

oo didn't know they are called pistou. Would love this with pasta!

7:03 AM  
Blogger grace said...

golly, that's such a gorgeous color. such vibrancy. and now, for the 395th time, i rue not having a garden. :)

7:56 AM  
Blogger gaga said...

How interesting, I've never heard of pistou. We love pesto, so I'm sure we'd love this too. I definitely wanna give it a try, thanks for sharing.

9:13 AM  
Blogger Deborah said...

I have never tried pesto without nuts, but I really should!

3:07 PM  
Blogger Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

With or without nuts this is the best way to use our summer basil.

3:58 PM  
Blogger Almost Vegetarian said...

I'm with you - pesto (pistou) is such a wonderful staple to have in the house. Slather it on anything or use it as a gorgeous dip or (my favorite) toss it with fresh pasta for the world's fastest and most flavorful dinner.

Of course, I have a real weakness for basil, so you know I love this.

Cheers!

4:56 PM  
Blogger Kerstin said...

Homemade pesto (or pistou is this case!) is just the best, yours looks delicious!

8:26 PM  
Blogger pinkstripes said...

YUM. Love basil.

9:47 PM  
Blogger Manggy said...

Oh, so that's what it is! I learn something new every day. It would be great on light-as-a-feather fettuccine, I imagine! :)

8:18 AM  
Blogger Foodie with Little Thyme! said...

So many pestos so little thyme! Looks good.

12:03 PM  
Blogger Chef Jeena said...

I would enjoy this pesto as much it looks fabulous!

2:30 PM  
Blogger Leslie said...

I bet your Pistou has an amazing fresh flavor!

6:35 PM  
Blogger RecipeGirl said...

I'd definitely love to try making it without nuts. Seems like it would be so much less fattening too!

6:54 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Thank you for the No Nuts recipe. I too have a problem with nuts and was wondering how in the world I was going to use my sweet basil, make the pesto and avoid the nuts. Thanks so much!

9:56 PM  
Blogger SnoWhite said...

Wonderful! I've never eaten pesto (I have a nut allergy too) and I can't wait to try making your recipe!! Thank you.

10:59 AM  
Blogger SnoWhite said...

I just made this recipe.... I've never tasted pesto b/c of my nut allergy and this is heavenly. Thank you!!! I'll be posting my version of this recipe soon, and I'll be sure to link back to you.

12:52 PM  

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