Do you have lots of basil in your garden? This homemade cashew pesto is so delicious and super simple to make.

I had so much basil in my garden and I thought it was time I made some pesto. I decided to make it with cashews instead of pine nuts because they are more affordable and I wanted to compare the flavours. I was so happy with the results and this recipe has become my go-to for pesto.

Basil grows very well in New Zealand during the spring and summer, it just needs lots of water to keep it healthy and hydrated. This recipe uses around 2 cups of basil leaves.

It is so simple to whip up your own pesto at home, the food processor does all of the work for you. This recipe only has 5 ingredients: basil, cashews, garlic, olive oil and grated parmesan cheese.

Make sure you season your pesto with plenty of salt and pepper. You add the seasoning before you process the ingredients but you can always add more to the pesto if needed after you have tasted it at the end.

This recipe makes around one cup of pesto so keep it in an airtight jar in the fridge. I have also had success freezing it in small plastic containers in the freezer. Just let it defrost when needed and stir through pasta.

Pesto is so versatile it is perfect on pizza, in savoury scrolls, as a dip and of course with pasta. After I made this delicious pesto I created this quick and easy recipe for Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta. You could also use it in my Pesto Pasta Bake, Grilled Salmon and Potato Salad, Orzo and Haloumi Salad, Pesto Potato Salad as well as my Asparagus and Bacon Spring Salad.

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Homemade Cashew Pesto

Yield: 1 cup of pesto

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

A tasty basil and cashew pesto made from 5 ingredients.

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Ingredients

• 2 cups fresh basil leaves
• 1 cup roasted cashews
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 50g parmesan, finely grated
• ⅓ cup olive oil
• 2 Tbsp water
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Place all ingredients into a food processor and blend until it becomes a smooth paste.
2. Season with more salt and pepper if needed.
3. Transfer to an airtight jar or container and store in the fridge until needed.

Notes

• The pesto will last for around 2 weeks in an airtight jar in the fridge
• You can freeze the pesto in small plastic container for up to 1 year. 

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 87Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 121mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 2g

Nutritional values are approximate. Please use your own calculations if you require a special diet.