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.
57 K 5/5 (1 reviews)
Grade this recipe:
Keywords:
Last modified on: September 16th 2020
For this recipe: Comment Send to a friend Ask me a question Follow Printable Diaporama Video
For 400 g, you will need:

Change these quantities to make:
Change measures:
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 : Stage 1
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 : Stage 2
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 : Stage 3
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 : Stage 4
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 : Stage 5
Blend a first time.

Stage 6 - ⌛ 2 min.
Carrot-top pesto : Stage 6
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 : 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 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
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
Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise is a cold egg dressing, quite thick, served with many dishes, usually cold too: meat, fish, vegetables, etc.
February 16th 2014832 K5 6 min.
Pear sorbet
Pear sorbet
For a great pear sorbet, choose your fruit carefully: they should be perfectly ripe and full of flavour. You will get good results with williams, but any other variety of your choice will work.
February 21th 2011349 K4 55 min.
Poached eggs
Poached eggs
Poached eggs are cooked, without the shell, in barely simmering (nearly boiling) water. White should be firm and yolk soft, that's the difficulty. This recipe teaches you how to succeed with three important points.
January 8th 2013334 K5 2 hours 40 min.
Oat shortbread biscuits
Oat shortbread biscuits
Little biscuits with home-made oat flour (made from rolled oat flakes).
February 21th 2011297 K 15 2 hours 45 min.
Succès praliné (praline meringue)
Succès praliné (praline meringue)
The "succès" (success) is a classic of traditional French patisserie, made with two layers of almond meringue filled with praline butter cream. It's very rich and a little old-fashioned these days, but still has many faithful fans. The original recipe comes from the master chef Gaston Lenôtre, and became one of his most famous cakes, but this version is a little easier to make.
June 20th 2010393 K 34.1 4 hours 20 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com

Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2026-03-22)

*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