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.
9,481 5/5 (1 reviews)
20 min.
Easy
750 g
8 IngredientsLast modified on: June 4th 2025
150 ml walnuts
225 ml beet tops
3 
150 ml Parmesan (Parmigiano Reggiano)
6 pinches 
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 15 min.
Cooking: 5 min.
All in all: 20 min.
If you start now, at , you will finish around : ?.Change start time
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: .Change end time
Step by step recipe
Stage 1 - 1 min.
Place 150 ml walnuts in a small frying pan over medium heat...
Stage 2 - 5 min.
Stage 3 - 5 min.
Wash then spin-dry 225 ml beet tops, keeping only the leaves.
Stage 4 - 1 min.
Place the leaves in a food processor, sprinkle with half the 3 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, 6 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 | 100 RDI=40 % | 80 RDI=8 % | 130 RDI=20 % | 1,740 RDI=90 % | 7,270 RDI: 90 % |
| Per 100 g | 8 RDI=3 % | 7 RDI=1 % | 10 RDI=2 % | 150 RDI=8 % | 640 RDI: 8 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 750 g : 5.10 €
Change currency: 
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: Polenta with beetroot tops, Gratin of beet tops and potatoes, "Au vert" beef, Tenderloin steak with beetroot tops and mushrooms, ... See them all 4
Parmesan (Parmigiano Reggiano)
Like these other recipes: Tomato pesto, Pea risotto "Mantecare", Seb's Italian-style aperitif slices, Cashew-nut and Parmesan biscuits, Crispy rolls with chicken and leek, ... See them all 60
Walnuts
Like these other recipes: Jura bread, Bistro-style endive salad, Caramelised walnuts, Poitevin twist, ... See them all 4
Lemon
Like these other recipes: Chicken and mushroom brik rolls, Strawberry-mint sorbet, Fish "à la Bordelaise", Lemon and grated apple tart, Quick bramble jelly, ... See them all 124
Other recipes you may also like
Tomato sauce (for pizzas)
This is the sauce to put on pizza bases before the toppings. October 19th 2010536 K4.3 1 hour 15 min.
New tiramisu
This new version of tiramisu is easier, and in my opinion much better. You will certainly appreciate, like me, the light creamy taste, this time presented in brandy goblets. January 19th 2015402 K3.3 55 min.
Bolognaise lasagne
Lasagne is an Italian pasta that comes in rectangular sheets. These are used to separate layers of filling, like a large savoury oven-baked millefeuille. A bolognaise lasagne combines bechamel sauce, minced meat and tomato sauce. February 27th 2011249 K4.4 2 hours 3 min.
Pancake batter
Here is a pancake batter that is a little more sophisticated than the traditional version. The pancakes will be tastier with a softer texture. February 2nd 2020357 K3.8 15 min.
Doughnuts
Ring doughnuts are a traditional American treat. In the United States they are part of the culture and come plain or with lots of different icings and toppings. Here is a recipe for plain doughnuts to which you can add your own choice of icing. September 22th 2013118 K4.7 3 hours 15 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com
Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2025-09-14)
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Post a 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.