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.
1,817 5/5 (1 reviews)
20 min.
Easy
500 g
8 IngredientsLast modified on: June 4th 2025
½ cup walnuts
2⁄3 cup beet tops
2 
½ cup Parmesan (Parmigiano Reggiano)
4 pinches 
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 ½ cup walnuts in a small frying pan over medium heat...
Stage 2 - 5 min.
Stage 3 - 5 min.
Wash then spin-dry 2⁄3 cup beet tops, keeping only the leaves.
Stage 4 - 1 min.
Place the leaves in a food processor, sprinkle with half the 2 lemons 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, 4 pinches 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 | 60 RDI=30 % | 50 RDI=5 % | 90 RDI=10 % | 1,160 RDI=60 % | 4,840 RDI: 60 % |
| Per 100 g | 8 RDI=3 % | 7 RDI=1 % | 10 RDI=2 % | 150 RDI=8 % | 640 RDI: 8 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 500 g : 3.40 €
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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: "Au vert" beef, Tenderloin steak with beetroot tops and mushrooms, Gratin of beet tops and potatoes, Polenta with beetroot tops, ... See them all 4
Walnuts
Like these other recipes: Bistro-style endive salad, Jura bread, Caramelised walnuts, Poitevin twist, ... See them all 4
Parmesan (Parmigiano Reggiano)
Like these other recipes: Vegetable tian, Pea risotto "Mantecare", Green asparagus omelette, Nanou's red cabbage salad, Polpete, ... See them all 58
Lemon
Like these other recipes: Sliced veal with leeks and mushrooms, Fish in white wine, Chicken pie, Multicoloured cucumber-tomato salad, Crêpes Suzette, ... See them all 123
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