Macadamia Pesto
Home made pesto using fresh basil leaves and macadamia nuts
Pesto is one of the most versatile foods around – it can be used as a dip (for chips and nachos), as a sauce (over grilled fish, pictured below), as a spread for bread (pictured below), as a base sauce for pizza and as a sauce for pasta. Hence to me, it is really handy to have a cupful of pesto lying around in the fridge.
Like Noob Cook on Facebook | Recipe Updates via Email |
Pesto as a sauce over baked fish (check out the recipe here)
The typical ingredients for pesto is pine nuts and basil. But since I had extra leftover macadamia nuts, I decided to make pesto using macadamia nuts. The result is pretty and delicious!
Ingredients
(adapted from Williams-Sonoma: Sauces)
- 60g sweet basil leaves
- a few flat-leaf parsley leaves (gives the pesto an attractive vibrant green colour)
- 30g toasted macadamia nuts, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled
- 50g grated parmesan cheese
- 125ml extra-virgin olive oil
- sea salt and freshly cracked black pepperTools
You need a special type of food processor with a tube opening on top. I don’t have it so I used a normal blender together with a mortar and pestle.Directions
Blend basil, parsley, nuts, garlic and cheese until well combined. With the blender motor still running, gradually pour in oil to achieve a thick, smooth consistency. If the pesto became too thick, add more oil. Since I do not have this special type of blender, I transfer the contents to a mortar and pestle after blending. Pound the ingredients using one hand while slowly pouring the oil with your other hand. Season with salt and pepper, or more cheese to taste. Keeps in fridge for about a week.
Recipe Notes
1. You can add 1 tsp balsamic vinegar if you like a slight tangy taste.
2. Pour a thin layer of olive oil over the surface to slow the discoloration.
3. You can also freeze the excess pesto in ice cube trays. Omit the cheese from the recipe and only add them when you thaw the pesto (tip from Simply Recipes). When freezing, secure the ice cube tray with cling wrap and once frozen, store the pesto cubes in ziplock bags in the freezer (tip from Instructables).
Macadamia pesto spread on baguette … accompanying my portobello mushroom soup
| If you enjoy this article, please share, tks! |     |
{ 41 comments… read them below or add one }
this sound healthy and nice click !
I like playing around with the nuts and herbs in pesto sauce too! Now you can mix them into pasta as well ;D
A very versatile sauce indeed.
yes pesto pasta is delicious :)
Beautiful pesto. Looks healthy and delicious. I have to try making it. Thanks for sharing.
Great combination! The colour is so lovely… I love it.
Healthy and delicious pesto! I’m looking at your baked salmon with pesto on it. It looks as delicious as our ‘ikan pepes’ :D
Then I think I will like ikan pepes ;)
I love pesto too, it’s so versatile. I’ve never tried making pesto with other nuts other than pine nuts!
I must try to make some pesto with macadamia nuts as yours looks so irresistible, esp. all over the salmon.
Love.. love.. love…. pesto!!! :)
oh yummm i love pesto, but still waiting for my home grown basil to have enough leaves to make a sauce :D heheheh…thx for the recipe! :)
I waited till the plant died and I finally have to buy the basil from the supermarket :P hehe
Wow – just plain wow, Wiffy! Looks soooo good. Macadamia nuts must make it over-the-top rich. Great photos, too. :up:
Thanks darling! :) I’ve always love macadamia nuts and it’s extra delicious for it when made into pesto
Perfect perfect! I have a recipe for pesto sauce that I use over pasta – I never thought to use macadamias (always pinenuts) – I’ve been missing a lot! Can’t wait for the fish recipe.
I am constantly using different nuts for making pesto. Have not tried the macadamia yet. Now that summer is here and basil is abundant there are no limits to this simple and elegant sauce. Thanks for the idea!
oh yes summer is the perfect season to make pesto. You reminded me to make a new batch soon!
I always make pesto sauce when I spotted fresh basil leaves in the supermarket. It’s really handy in cooking pasta. Save me lots of time especially weekends. Will try your recipe if I can get nice macadamia. Yours looks super-yummy!!
Thanks, hope you try it out one day and let me know your feedback :)
This sounds healthy and looks very beautiful. I already bookmarked this!
Thank you, I hope you try it out :)
I love trying different ingredients for pesto, and macadamia nuts sound great! It looks delicious with the fish.
….using macadamia nuts for pesto is so interesting…I like different ways of making pesto
Hmm…yummy! Must be flavorful.
I seem to be seeing alot of pesto around… Mmm I’m thinking of making a batch for pizza, spaghetti and maybe potatos!..
I love the idea of pesto potatoes. Really a versatile sauce indeed :)
What a great way to serve it on top of the salmon. I used walnuts in my pesto, haha…
wow walnuts, never tried that before … in my to-try list hehe
Love your pics in vibrant colours. This recipe just comes in time. I’ve got some french bread, am going to make some baguettes. Thanks for directing use to have those wonderful tips.
You’re welcome :) Hope you find the tips useful … can’t wait to see your baguette featured.
Hey Noob, I love basil, and macadamia sounds like it would be just as delicious as any nut. I use sunflower seeds b/c they are cheap (smile)…
Oh I’ve never heard of sunflower seeds for pesto and it sounds good! I have a lot of frozen sunflower seeds so I may try it out one day.
Macadamia nuts are irresistible! If I have them in the house I can’t stop eating until their gone. :lol: I bet this pesto is amazing!
mmm~~ i’m loving it xD
I love making pesto when I have loads of fresh basil from my herbs garden and will freeze it and I can use it anytime I want to. Another way of getting vibrant green color from the pesto is blanch the basil for a few second in boiling water and then dip it in ice cold water before blending it.
oh thanks for the tips! good to discover more than one way of making the bright color. and I’m jealous of your lush herbs garden hehe
Absolutely delicious with seafood, pizza and pasta. I usually make mine with pine nuts though.
this is truly exciting! a must try recipe… did I hear macadamia?
Wish i can did my finger into this paesto and lick it off! wow! sounds sexy tho! :)
Hi, where can I get fresh sweet basil leaves?
Hi, fresh herbs section (in the fridge). I bought them at NTUC/Giant. But they may not carry it everyday.