• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Simple And Savory
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Contact
  • Favorites
  • Resources
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • Recipes
    • Contact
    • Favorites
    • Resources
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Sauce and Salsa Recipes

    Broccoli Walnut Pesto

    Published: Aug 9, 2022 · by Anne · This post may contain affiliate links Leave a Comment

    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Yummly
    Jump to Recipe
    pasta on a plate with a jar of pesto in the background

    Broccoli walnut pesto has all of the flavors and more of traditional pesto. Walnuts replace costly pine nuts for a delicious pesto sauce that is filled with fresh basil and broccoli for an extra nutritious and delicious sauce.

    pasta on a plate with a jar of pesto in the background

    Homemade pesto recipes are so convenient and versatile! If you prefer a classic pesto, try our basil pesto made with cashews.

    Jump to:
    • Why you will love this recipe
    • Here is what you will need to make this broccoli pesto recipe
    • how to make broccoli walnut pesto
    • Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
    • Variations
    • Serving suggestions
    • How to store leftovers
    • Recipe tips
    • You might also like these pesto recipes
    • 📖 Recipe

    Why you will love this recipe

    • Broccoli walnut pesto is an easy way to sneak more veggies into your diet.
    • It's simple to make and there are so many ways to use it.
    a picture of broccoli pesto ingredients

    Here is what you will need to make this broccoli pesto recipe

    This is an overview of the ingredients and steps to make this recipe; scroll down for a printable recipe card with exact measurements and instructions.

    Ingredients

    • raw broccoli florets
    • fresh basil leaves
    • garlic
    • extra virgin olive oil
    • walnuts
    • freshly grated parmesan cheese

    Equipment

    • food processor
    • saucepan
    • cheese grater

    how to make broccoli walnut pesto

    Prepare the ingredients: Roughly chop the broccoli and garlic, and trim any thick stems off of the basil.

    a saucepan with broccoli in it

    Step 1. Cook the broccoli

    Add just enough water to a saucepan to cover the bottom. Add the broccoli, cover and cook over medium heat until the broccoli turns bright green and begins to soften; about 10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove the broccoli from the boiling water; or drain and rinse it with cold water.

    broccoli, walnuts and pesto in a food processor

    Step 2. Process the ingredients

    Add the cooked broccoli, basil and walnuts to the bowl of a food processor.

    broccoli pesto mixed in a food processor

    Step 3. Process the pesto

    Run the food processor until all of the ingredients are broken down and blended together.

    broccoli pesto with grated cheese

    Step 4. Add the cheese

    Scrape the sides of the bowl and add the cheese. Run the processor again and add the oil through the feed tube while the processor is running. Adjust the texture with oil or the remaining cooking liquid from the broccoli.

    Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

    Broccoli - fresh broccoli is the best broccoli to use in this recipe. Smaller florets, I like to use smaller florets that will cook quicker.

    Fresh broccoli can be replaced with frozen, thawed, and cooked broccoli.

    Parmesan cheese - always use freshly grated cheese to avoid extra additives and preservatives.

    Walnuts - walnuts add a nice texture and flavor to the pesto sauce. They can be substituted with pine nuts, sunflower seeds, pecans, almonds or cashews.

    Variations

    One of the many great things about pesto sauce is that it's so versatile.

    • Change up the herbs - replace or add to the basil with fresh herbs such as parsley, oregano, or cilantro.
    • Add more veggies - Add a handful of baby spinach or arugula to the food processor with the broccoli.
    • Vegan broccoli walnut pesto - replace the parmesan cheese with nutritional yeast or vegan parmesan cheese.
    • Nut-free broccoli pesto - replace the walnuts with an equal amount of sunflower seeds.
    • Spicy broccoli pesto - add up to a teaspoon of red pepper flakes for spicy broccoli pesto.

    Serving suggestions

    Serve broccoli walnut pesto sauce with a sprinkle of lemon zest and a dash of parmesan cheese over your favorite pasta or zucchini noodles, grilled chicken and a salad for a quick and healthy meal.

    Broccoli pesto also tastes great smeared on grilled chicken, pork or seafood, on baked potatoes, roasted vegetables, or added to hummus.

    an overhead view of pasta on a plate with a jar of pesto on the side

    How to store leftovers

    Store leftover broccoli walnut pesto in the refrigerator for up to four days in an airtight container.

    Freeze leftover pesto for up three months in a freezer-safe container.

    Recipe tips

    • Freeze leftover pesto sauce in ice cube trays or mini cupcake tins. Once they are frozen, pop them out of the ice cube trays, and store them in a reusable plastic bag for individual portions.
    • Save the broccoli water and use it to thin out the pesto sauce.

    For more simple and delicious recipes like this, subscribe to our newsletter and receive a free e-book and meal suggestions straight in your inbox!

    You might also like these pesto recipes

    • Broccoli Pesto
    • Asparagus Pesto Recipe
    • Arugula Pesto Sauce with Basil and Walnuts
    • Garlic Scape Pesto Recipe
    • Basil Cashew Pesto

    📖 Recipe

    pasta on a plate with a jar of pesto in the background

    Broccoli Walnut Pesto Sauce

    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe Add to Collection Go to Collections
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes

    Click on serving size to scale this recipe

    Course: Sauce and Salsa Recipes
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Broccoli walnut pesto, broccoli walnut pesto sauce
    Calories: 72kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup broccoli florets
    • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
    • 2 cloves garlic
    • ⅛ cup walnut pieces
    • ⅛ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

    Instructions

    • Add enough water to cover the bottom of a saucepan and add the broccoli. Cover the pot and cook over medium heat until the broccoli begins to soften - about 10 minutes.
    • Drain the broccoli and reserve some of the water.
    • Place the broccoli, basil, garlic, and walnuts in the food processor bowl.
    • Process the pesto mixture until it is almost pureed.
    • Remove the top of the food processor, scrape down the sides add the shredded cheese.
    • Process the pesto once again adding the oil through the top of the food processor.
    • Adjust the consistency using a little bit of oil or the reserved water from the broccoli.

    Notes

    Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to four days in an airtight container.
    Freeze broccoli pesto sauce for up to three months.
    See blog post for serving suggestions and tips.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1Tablespoon | Calories: 72kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 18mg

    Nutrition information provided is an estimate and can vary based on cooking methods and ingredients used

    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Sauce and Salsa Recipes

    • Healthy Peanut Sauce Recipe
    • Garlic Scape Pesto Recipe
    • Easy Basil Cashew Pesto
    • Cilantro Chimichurri Recipe
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Yummly

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi there! I am Anne and welcome to Simple and Savory where you will find no fuss and DELICIOUSLY easy recipes that are made with wholesome, fresh everyday ingredients. Read More…

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Simple and Savory
    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! For New Recipes Updates and Tips

    Contact

    • Contact
    • FAQ

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Simple and Savory.  All material is written by and is the property of simpleandsavory.com Please do not use any content from this site without permission.