Carrot-top pesto


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.
46 K 5/5 (1 reviews)
Grade this recipe:
Keywords:
Last modified on: September 16th 2020
For 400 g, you will need:

Change these quantities to make:
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 15 min.
Cooking: 5 min.
All in all: 20 min.
When should you start or finish this recipe?
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 - 5 min.
Carrot-top pesto
Put 50 g whole almonds into a small frying pan on medium heat. Toast until just lightly coloured (stir round frequently).

Leave to cool then chop coarsely.

Stage 2
Carrot-top pesto
Save 200 g 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.
Carrot-top pesto
Wash the leaves, cut off the stalks , then drain and dry them in a tea towel or salad spinner.

Stage 4 - 2 min.
Carrot-top pesto
Put the leaves in a high-sided container.

Add the juice and zest of 1 lemon, 3 g vitamin C and 3 tablespoons olive oil.

Stage 5 - 2 min.
Carrot-top pesto
Blend a first time.

Stage 6 - 2 min.
Carrot-top pesto
Add 50 g 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.

Stage 7
Carrot-top pesto
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 recipe30 RDI=10 %20 RDI=2 %80 RDI=10 %970 RDI=50 %4,060 RDI: 50 %
Per 100 g6 RDI=3 %4 RDI=0 %20 RDI=3 %200 RDI=10 %860 RDI: 10 %
The % figures are calculated in relation to the Recommended Dietary Intake , or RDI of 2,000 k-calories (or 8,400 k-joules) per day for a woman Change to a man
Possible allergens in this recipe: Nuts, Milk
How much will it cost?
  • For 400 g : 2.15 €

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)
Other recipes you may also like
Home-made terrine of foie gras
Home-made terrine of foie gras
Preparing your own home-made foie gras from raw is immensively satisfying: good quality liver and a simply amazing flavour – much better than anything you can buy. This recipe is a bit tricky, but quite within everyone's grasp, as long as you follow the 3 most delicate stages carefully. These are,...
December 16th 20245.27 M 64.2 4 days 15 hours 50 min.
Foie gras cured in salt
Foie gras cured in salt
This a quite different preparation from the terrine of foie gras, this time it does not go in the oven, the liver is salted for 48 hours and it "cooks" (or cures) in this way.
December 23th 2017569 K5 2 days 16 hours 30 min.
Natural leaven
Natural leaven
Leaven is a natural raising agent, a fermented mixture of water, flour and the microscopic yeasts which are present in the air. It's a delicate living substance, sensitive to the external environment. The recipe is around 4000 years old and dates back to the Egypt of the Pharaohs, via a beautiful...
April 3rd 20201.71 M 304.0 7 days 15 min.
Fish petals, vegetables julienne, and beurre blanc
Fish petals, vegetables julienne, and beurre blanc
This recipe consists of delicate flakes ("petals") of poached fish, cooked with smoked ham, served on a bed of julienne vegetables (fine sticks of carrots, turnips and cabbage), with a "beurre blanc" sauce made with vinegar and shallots. Not difficult, but entails some work.
December 31th 2013262 K4 1 hour 35 min.
How to cook bacon and remove excess fat
How to cook bacon and remove excess fat
To prevent excess fat in a recipe using bacon, you can "blanch" it before use, leaving most of the fat in the pan with the water.
February 21th 2011389 K 44.8 15 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com

Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2025-07-20)

*Your e-mail Your first name or nickname
I am not a leaving thing
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Post a comment or question
Posted by:
I am not a leaving thing

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.
I am not a leaving thing
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.

Back to top of page