Name: Carrot Top Cashew Pesto
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 2 cups fairly packed carrot top greens, leaves only; ½ cup fairly packed flat-leaf parsley; 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves; 1 large garlic clove, roughly chopped; ⅓ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese; ¼ cup toasted cashews, roughly chopped; Juice and zest of 1 lemon; ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

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So you’ve cooked your carrots, but not quite sure what to do with all those dark, leafy greens? Whip up this 8-ingredient Carrot Top Cashew Pesto! It’s a cinch to make, great on steak, chicken, chops, pasta, veggies, you name it. Just pull out a scroll!

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Carrot Top Cashew Pesto – A delicious, quick and easy way to make use of leafy carrot greens with just 8 ingredients.

Key Ingredients

Pestos are perfect for experimenting with ingredient combinations you may not have considered before. Carrots’ delicate greens are herbaceous, earthy, slightly bitter and taste, well, a bit like carrots. They have a unique flavor that pairs beautifully with fresh herbs like parsley and thyme.

Garlic, lemon, parmesan and olive oil are usual pesto suspects that are in the line up. Toasted cashews add a fragrant depth of rich, nutty flavor. This is such a complementary bunch you’ll want to make a double batch to freeze to always have some on hand.

All the ingredients are whirled in the food processor until you have a thick, beautiful green mixture.

You can’t go wrong with making delicious use of something you may have otherwise tossed. Spread it, mix it, spoon or drizzle it over whatever you’re dishing up. Enjoy!

Pesto served in white bowl on wooden board garnished with cashews, carrot tops and lemon wedges.

More Pesto Ideas to Try!

Spinach Walnut Pesto

Cilantro Pistachio Pesto

Basil Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto

Kale Pecan Pesto (by Cookie + Kate)

And Delicious Ways to use Them!

Skillet Breakfast Pesto Pizza

Four Cheese Veggie & Pesto Stuffed Shells

Basil Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Tortellini Salad

Creamy Chicken & Pesto Stuffed Mini Peppers

Balsamic Roasted Root Vegetables

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Carrot Top Cashew Pesto

This Carrot Top Cashew Pesto is great on steak, chicken, chops, pasta, seafood, you name it. Just pull out a scroll!

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Course: Pesto, Sauce

Cuisine: Italian, Mediterranean

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Servings: 1 cup

Author: Kim Peterson

Ingredients

2 cups fairly packed carrot top greens, leaves only
½ cup fairly packed flat-leaf parsley
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
1 large garlic clove, roughly chopped
⅓ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
¼ cup toasted cashews, roughly chopped
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

Instructions

Combine carrot greens, parsley, thyme, garlic, parmesan cheese, cashews, lemon juice and zest in a food processor.
Pulse a few times to combine mixture. Scrape sides with a spatula.
With machine running, slowly drizzle in the oil. Continue to pulse for desired texture.
Season to taste with salt and pepper. Makes approximately 1 cup. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before serving.)

Notes

* Pestos will oxidize when exposed to air, and begin to brown. Adding a little olive oil over top and laying plastic wrap directly on the pesto before covering in an airtight container will help the pesto stay greener longer.

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