Beet leaf pesto
Here's a pesto recipe made with beet leaves, where the pine nuts are replaced by roasted walnuts.
The result is a highly original pesto, with an astonishing pinkish-green color and a delicious little bitterness.
The result is a highly original pesto, with an astonishing pinkish-green color and a delicious little bitterness.
1,595 5/5 (1 reviews)
20 min.
Easy
125 g
8 IngredientsLast modified on: June 4th 2025
25 g walnuts
75 g beet tops
½ 
25 g Parmesan (Parmigiano Reggiano)
1 pinch 
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 - 1 min.
Place 25 g walnuts in a small frying pan over medium heat...
Stage 2 - 5 min.
Stage 3 - 5 min.
Wash then spin-dry 75 g beet tops, keeping only the leaves.
Stage 4 - 1 min.
Place the leaves in a food processor, sprinkle with half the ½ lemon juice, and blend for a few seconds.
If necessary, process the beet leaves in batches - we just want to reduce their volume a little.
If necessary, process the beet leaves in batches - we just want to reduce their volume a little.
Stage 5 - 2 min.
Add the rest of the lemon juice, the zest of half the lemon, the walnuts, 1 pinch vitamin C if necessary (to avoid oxidation and keep a nice color), salt, pepper and a little olive oil.
Stage 6 - 3 min.
Stage 7 - 3 min.
Place in a jar, pour a film of oil over the top, close tightly and store in the fridge.
Remarks
We don't use the stems, just the leaves, so there's no need to blanch.
The proportions are only indicative, so feel free to adapt them to the beet tops you have and your own taste.
The proportions are only indicative, so feel free to adapt them to the beet tops you have and your own taste.
Keeping: Several days in a closed jar in the fridge.
Source: Home made.
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 % | 20 RDI=3 % | 290 RDI=10 % | 1,210 RDI: 10 % |
| Per 100 g | 8 RDI=3 % | 7 RDI=1 % | 10 RDI=2 % | 150 RDI=8 % | 640 RDI: 8 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 125 g : 0.85 €
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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)
Beet tops
Like these other recipes: Tenderloin steak with beetroot tops and mushrooms, "Au vert" beef, Polenta with beetroot tops, Gratin of beet tops and potatoes, ... See them all 4
Parmesan (Parmigiano Reggiano)
Like these other recipes: Spring Bread, Spaghetti with tomatoes and pesto, Spaghetti Carbonara, Raw beetroot salad, Crispy rolls with chicken and leek, ... See them all 58
Walnuts
Like these other recipes: Caramelised walnuts, Poitevin twist, Bistro-style endive salad, Jura bread, ... See them all 4
Lemon
Like these other recipes: Greek-style stuffed courgettes, Surprise eggs, Quince paste, Clementine sorbet, Fish "à la Bordelaise", ... See them all 123
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