Low-Fat Garden Pesto
A vibrant, low-fat pesto featuring fresh herbs, garlic, walnuts, lemon, and miso, perfect for spreading on sandwiches, pizza, or mixing with pasta for a healthy, flavorful meal.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Add garlic, walnuts, fresh herbs, lemon juice, miso paste, and tomato paste to a processor and blend.
- Add water gradually until the desired consistency is reached.
- Adjust seasoning to taste and spread on sandwiches and pizza.
- Mix with some pasta cooking water and serve with pasta.
Tips & Substitutions
For a creamier texture, consider adding a small amount of nutritional yeast or avocado. If you don’t have walnuts, pine nuts or pecans can be great substitutes. Adjust the amount of tomato paste based on your preference for sweetness. Fresh herbs are best for flavor, but you can use dried herbs in a pinch, keeping in mind to reduce the quantity.
Serving Suggestions
This low-fat garden pesto is perfect as a spread on sandwiches or as a drizzle over roasted vegetables. For a delightful meal, mix it with pasta cooking water and toss with your favorite pasta, or use it as a topping for homemade pizza. It pairs beautifully with Italian Beef Sandwiches(A Great Crock Pot Recipe) for a hearty meal.
Storage & Reheating
Store leftover pesto in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. To prevent browning, drizzle a little olive oil on top before sealing. If you want to store it longer, transfer it to ice cube trays and freeze, then pop out cubes for quick use in future dishes.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Low-Fat Garden Pesto contains roughly 714 calories, with 20g protein, 98g carbohydrates, and 30g fat. It is an excellent source of iron (61% of the Daily Value), protein (40% of the Daily Value), and potassium (38% of the Daily Value), and a good source of vitamin A and calcium. Note that it is relatively high in sodium, at 1163mg per serving (51% of the Daily Value).
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use frozen herbs instead of fresh?
While fresh herbs are recommended for the best flavor, you can use frozen herbs in a pinch. Just make sure to thaw and drain any excess moisture before adding them to the processor.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).