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.
43 K 5/5 (1 reviews)
20 min.
Easy
200 g
9 IngredientsLast modified on: September 16th 2020
25 ml whole almonds
50 ml turnip (or other vegetable) tops
½ 
1.5 ml 
1.5 tablespoon 
25 ml Parmesan (Parmigiano Reggiano)
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 15 min.
Cooking: 5 min.
All in all: 20 min.
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Step by step recipe
Stage 1 - 5 min.
Put 25 ml 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 50 ml 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 25 ml 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
| Proteins (gr) | Carbohydrates (gr) | Fats (gr) | Energy value (in k-calories) | Energy value (in k-joules) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole recipe | 20 RDI=6 % | 10 RDI=1 % | 40 RDI=6 % | 490 RDI=20 % | 2,030 RDI: 20 % |
| Per 100 g | 6 RDI=3 % | 4 RDI=0 % | 20 RDI=3 % | 200 RDI=10 % | 860 RDI: 10 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 200 g : 1.10 €
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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
Like these other recipes: Super-green, super-thrifty soup, The strange gratin, Turnip top soup, ... See them all 3
Whole almonds
Like these other recipes: Rice pudding with fruit and nuts, Chinese style chicken, Crusty pistachio, almond and apricot flan, Chocolate Truffles, Indian rice pudding, ... See them all 23
Parmesan (Parmigiano Reggiano)
Like these other recipes: Tomato foccacia, Purple Pesto, Broad bean salad with Parmesan, Julia salad, Pesto crackers, ... See them all 57
Olive oil
Like these other recipes: Firied fillet of sea bream with polenta, Green avocado salad, Scallop and leek pancakes, Green bean and potato salad with paprika, Scallops with fondue of leeks, ... See them all 518
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