Carrot-top pesto
You will no doubt be familiar with classic pesto. Here is an alternative, zero-waste version using carrot tops for a surprising pesto, full of fresh flavour.
34K 1 5
Last modified on: September 16th 2020
Keywords for this recipe:
2⁄3 cup whole almonds
1 1⁄3 cup turnip (or other vegetable) tops
3 
½ tablespoon 
9 tablespoons 
2⁄3 cup Parmesan (Parmigiano Reggiano)
How long does it take?
Time required for this recipe:
| Preparation | Cooking | Start to finish |
|---|---|---|
| 11 min. | 5 min. | 16 min. |
At what time:
- When will I finish if I start the recipe at ... ?
When should I start for the recipe to be ready at ... ? - Work this out...
Step by step recipe
Stage 1 - 5 min.
Put 2⁄3 cup whole almonds into a small frying pan on medium heat. Toast until just lightly coloured (stir round frequently).
Leave to cool then chop coarsely.
Leave to cool then chop coarsely.
Stage 2
Save 1 1⁄3 cup turnip (or other vegetable) tops (carrot tops here). The weight is simply for guidance, so let's just say the tops from a normal bunch of carrots.
Stage 3 - 5 min.
Wash the leaves, cut off the stalks , then drain and dry them in a tea towel or salad spinner.
Stage 4 - 2 min.
Stage 5 - 2 min.
Blend a first time.
Stage 6 - 2 min.
Add 2⁄3 cup Parmesan (Parmigiano Reggiano), the almonds, salt and pepper, then blend again.
Add a little more olive oil while still blending (have someone to help if possible), until the mixture is smooth.
Add a little more olive oil while still blending (have someone to help if possible), until the mixture is smooth.
Stage 7
Your carrot-top pesto is ready.
Remarks
You can make different version of this recipe with whatever vegetable tops you have to hand (e.g. radish or turnip), or different nuts (e.g. hazelnuts). Let your imagination lead you.
Keeping
A few days in the fridge in a sealed bottle.
Source
Based on a recipe by chef Angèle Ferreux-Maeght.
Nutritional information
| Whole recipe | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Energetic value | Proteins | Carbohydrates | Fats |
| 2,912 Kcal or 12,192 Kj | 94 gr | 64 gr | 254 gr |
| 146 % | 36 % | 6 % | 38 % |
| Per 100 g | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Energetic value | Proteins | Carbohydrates | Fats |
| 204 Kcal or 854 Kj | 7 gr | 4 gr | 18 gr |
| 10 % | 3 % | <1 % | 3 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 1 kg 200 g : 6.39 €
Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
This recipe uses (among others)
 | Turnip (or other vegetable) tops: You can check-out other recipes which use it, like for example: Super-green, super-thrifty soup, Polenta with beetroot tops, The strange gratin, Turnip top soup, Gratin of beet tops and potatoes, ... All |
 | Whole almonds: You can check-out other recipes which use it, like for example: Rice pudding with fruit and nuts, Frozen Nougat, Kugelhof for Nanou, Chocolate mendiants, Toasted almond cake, ... All |
 | Parmesan (Parmigiano Reggiano): You can check-out other recipes which use it, like for example: Special Parmesan baguettes, Rice à l'italienne, Tomato feuilleté with pesto, Scallops with green asparagus tips and parmesan, Parmesan cauliflower cheese, ... All |
 | Olive oil: You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: Pumpkin and red-bean tortillas, Tomato sauce (for pizzas), Scallops au gratin, Filet mignon with mustard and tarragon sauce, Filet mignon with asparagus, ... All |
Other recipes you may also like
Tiramisu
Classic italian recipe (the name means "pull me up" or more poetically, "take me up to the sky"). It's similar to a charlotte in its structure: layers of flavoured biscuits between layers of smooth cream.483K5 49 min. July 27th 2013
Macarons (the original French macaroons)
This recipe really is "of the moment": the success of these small, highly-coloured cakes, in an infinite variety of flavours, is impressive. It's a recipe which needs some care, in order to produce a result worthy of a professional pastrychef. No problem, I will guide you through the recipe,...1.6M 714.6 2 hours 38 min. October 3rd 2019
Tartiflette
A personal version of a classic recipe from Savoy.586K 14.6 1 hour 27 min. September 16th 2019
Small foie gras pasties
Dainty pasties, filled with a morsel of seasoned foie gras.309K4.6 2 hours September 7th 2018
Leavened bread
It might be harder to achieve good results than with traditional yeast bread, but what a flavour! It also keeps better. This recipe is designed for baking bread in a wood-fired oven but, of course, you can use the conventional oven in your kitchen.1.2M 23.8 6 hours 26 min. May 23th 2017
News list of cooking-ez.com
Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2024-05-26)
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Post your comment or question
Follow this recipe
If you are interested in this recipe, you can "follow" it, by entering your email address here. You will then receive a notification immediately each time the recipe is modified or a new comment is added. Please note that you will need to confirm this following.
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Alternatively: you can subscribe to the mailing list of cooling-ez.com , you will receive a e-mail for each new recipe published on the site.