Easy and Delicious Asparagus Pesto Sauce

Name: Asparagus Pesto
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 pound fresh asparagus (rinsed and trimmed); A 1/2 cup or handful of fresh basil; 1/2 cup shelled sunflower seeds; 2 cloves garlic; 1 Tablespoon Plus 1/2 cup extra vrigin olive oil; water; garnishes: fresh lemon juice and grated parmesan cheese

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This Asparagus pesto recipe is a light and fresh pesto sauce that is just perfect for the spring. It’s so easy to make and it can be used the same way that you would use traditional basil pesto.

Asparagus pesto on top of linguine pasta with shredded cheese and basil on top

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Pesto is a scrumptious sauce made with basil, oil, garlic, parmesan cheese, and pine nuts. To keep things interesting, I enjoy experimenting with different ingredients when preparing pesto sauce. Recently, I discovered how delicious asparagus pesto sauce with sunflower seeds can be.

Fast, easy, and delicious asparagus pesto is perfect for a quick and healthy pasta sauce. If you love pesto, try garlic scape pesto, arugula pesto and broccoli pesto too!

Why you will asparagus pesto sauce

Asparagus pesto sauce offers a distinctive and delicious twist on traditional pesto. The combination of asparagus, Parmesan cheese, garlic, sunflower seeds, and olive oil creates a flavorful unique sauce.
Asparagus pesto sauce is versatile and can be used in many ways. Toss it with pasta, spread it on sandwiches, drizzle it over grilled meats, or use it as a dip.
It’s a great way to use up leftover cooked asparagus.

The ingredients for the pesto: sunflower seeds, olive oil, garlic asparagus basil

Here is what you will need

This is a brief summary of the ingredients needed to make this recipe and a convenient shopping list from my Instacart affiliate link. For a printable recipe card with exact measurements and detailed instructions, scroll down to the recipe card section.

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Ingredients

Fresh asparagus
Basil leaves
Garlic
Sunflower seeds
Extra-virgin olive oil
Fresh lemon juice and grated parmesan cheese or pecorino romano cheese for garnish.

🥄Equipment

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How to make asparagus pesto sauce

Prepare the ingredients: Rinse the asparagus and snap off the rough ends. Rough chop the garlic clove, measure the seeds and olive oil.

Raw asparagus arranged on a parchment lined baking sheet

STEP 1: Arrange the asparagus spears in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and brush them with a thin layer of olive oil.

(Skip step 1 and 2 if you are using leftover asparagus.)

STEP 2: Roast the asparagus in the oven until it’s fork-tender, about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the asparagus and let it cool off.

roasted asparagus arranged on a baking sheet with oil

chopped asparagus garlic and sunflower seeds in a food processor

STEP 3: Once the asparagus is cool enough to handle, chop it into chunks about 1 inch in size and place it in the food processor with the sunflower seeds and garlic.

STEP 4: Process the mixture into small pieces.

processed asparagus, garlic and sunflower seeds in a food processor

pesto mixture with basil in a food processor

STEP 5: Add the basil, and process once again while adding the oil through the feeding tube.

STEP 6: The pesto will be slightly thick, if you prefer thin pesto adjust the sauce to your preference by adding more oil or water.

food processor with blended asparagus pesto

Check out these tips on how to choose, clean and cook asparagus.

Pesto ingredient notes and substitutions

The full list of ingredients to make this homemade pesto sauce recipe is above. Below are notes about some of the ingredients along with ideas for substitutes.

Asparagus. I like to use roasted asparagus in this recipe, but you can use asparagus that is cooked any way that you like; steamed, blanched, or grilled. It’s also a great way to use up leftover asparagus.

Basil. Fresh basil leaves add a ton of flavor to pesto sauce and it doesn’t take over the earthy flavors of the asparagus. If you don’t like to use basil, it can be left out.

Sunflower Seeds. Pesto is usually made with pine nuts which have become very expensive. You can use them in this recipe in place of sunflower seeds and you can also use walnuts or pistachio nuts

an overhead view of pesto on a white plate

What to serve with asparagus pesto sauce

There are so many ways to enjoy asparagus pesto. Serve it garnished with lemon zest and a pinch of salt over al dente pasta, rice, or zucchini noodles or add it to your favorite pasta salad.

Asparagus pesto also tastes great drizzled over freshly sliced tomatoes, or brushed on grilled meat, spread on a sandwich, on a pizza crust or flatbread with sliced tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella cheese.

How to store leftovers

Leftover asparagus pesto will last in the refrigerator for three to four days in an airtight container. Use the leftover sauce as a spread on sandwiches or drizzle it over cooked vegetables.

You can also freeze this delicious sauce, which will extend the asparagus season too. Asparagus pesto can be frozen for up to six months in a freezer container or placed into an ice cube tray for individual-sized portions.

Once the pesto is frozen solid in individual portions, remove it from the ice cube tray and store it in a bag. Individual portions are great for adding to homemade marinara sauce and even to homemade salad dressing!

Recipe variations

Change up the seeds and use an equal amount of chopped walnuts, almonds, or cashews.

Spinach and asparagus pesto – Add a handful of baby spinach leaves to the food processor with the asparagus.

Sun-dried tomato and asparagus pesto – Add a 1/4 cup of sun-dried tomatoes to the food processor with the asparagus.

Recipe FAQs

How do I make my pesto sauce thinner after storing it?

Pesto sauce can become thick when it is stored in the refrigerator, just before serving gradually stir in a little bit of olive oil or water until the sauce reaches a consistency that you like. If you are making pasta with your pesto, the pasta water works well for this.

How do you steam asparagus for asparagus pesto?

Place a steamer basket filled with trimmed asparagus into a pan with a little bit of water. Cover the pan and steam the asparagus for about 8 minutes.
Or add one to two inches of water to a large skillet and place the asparagus in the skillet. Cover and steam for 6 to 8 minutes.