Nut-free Pesto

I mixed it up with some bacon, chicken and spaghetti squash to make awesome faux-pasta

Not everyone likes nuts in their pesto.

Some people, like me, can’t afford nuts in their pesto.

I stood in the supermarket, looking aghast at a packet of pine nuts: “$9.99 for pine nuts? $9.99!?! Have they taken crazy pills?”

And so the reason this pesto is sans nuts, is because I am a cheapskate with a finely tuned radar for when retailers are trying to rip me off.

Happily I discovered that pesto doesn’t actually need nuts. It’s just as rich, delicious and fragrant without.

Nut-free Pesto (makes 1 cup)

• 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
• 2 small cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 tsps lemon juice
• 2 cups grated parmesan
• 2 tsps capers
• 6 tsps extra virgin olive oil

1. Blend all the above together until it is a smooth paste. Chill in the fridge until needed or freeze for later use.

Like this? You might also like:

• Broccoli Pesto
• Walnut Pesto Stuffed Chicken
• Pepita Pesto