Today’s post is sponsored by the ever so flavorful Hellas Farms Greek Pistachios. This Pistachio Pesto with Basil & Spinach is THE ultimate pesto sauce. Insanely delicious, bright, flavorful and loaded with pistachio goodness! It takes exactly 5 mins to make, keeps in your fridge for at least a month and you can use it on anything!
Trust me, EVERYTHING tastes much better with this homemade pistachio pesto!! Don’t miss out on this 5-mins, no-cook pistachio pesto sauce that will take your pasta game to another level!
Why this recipe for Pistachio Pesto sauce will totally up your pasta game:
Let’s talk about using those outstanding pistachios in a pesto. It’s like the best of both worlds.
I mean there’s something undeniably delicious about the humble Italian pesto sauce —it’s got plenty of fresh bright basil flavor, with a touch of garlic, a touch of lemon, a touch of Parmesan cheese and a load of olive oil.
Now imagine adding plenty of rich pistachios to that—it’s like a dream come true!!
And if you’re wondering about the spinach, I’ve found that adding just a little bit of spinach to my pistachio pesto helps mellow and blend in all the flavors.
It also makes the texture of the pistachio pesto smoother, so even though it’s optional, I strongly recommend it! This easy pesto sauce is gluten-free and can be totally vegan if you leave out the Parmesan cheese ( I love replacing it with a teaspoon of mustard).
Today I’ve used this wonderful pistachio pesto sauce tossed over fettuccine for a scrumptious dinner in 15 mins!! And if you’re in the mood for some serious creamy dreamy pasta sauce love, just add 1/4 cup of cream to your pasta when cooked along with the pesto..then close your eyes and YES it’s real!! Seriously luscious!
This is, by the way, a great recipe for your Mother’s Day menu? It makes a perfect light and elegant dinner in minutes. It’s also a perfect potluck dish, picnic dish, and bbq side dish!
This is the kind of pasta that you can serve nice and hot for dinner or cold as a pasta salad, and so is the pesto sauce. So you can use it in endless ways—hot or cold.
How to make Fettuccine with Pistachio Pesto:
Cook your pasta according to the instructions on the package.
Meanwhile, place all the pesto ingredients except for the olive oil in the bowl of your food processor.
Process until the mixture is fine, then add in the olive oil and process until the mixture is a smooth sauce (it will not be creamy smooth, but smooth).
When the pasta is done, drain it well. Then toss about 1/2 of the pesto (more or less to your taste) with the pasta and plate them. Drizzle with remaining pesto and enjoy!
Here are some of my favorite ways to use this fabulous Pistachio Pesto sauce:
When I have no time to marinate chicken, beef or fish—I’ll cook or grill them and then smear a thin layer of pesto (you can thin it out with a little more oil or mayo or lemon juice) on top for a fabulous boost of flavor! Or even on veggies!
I love to slather pestos on my pizza, sandwiches and burgers.
Another great use for pestos is salad dressings. Take a teaspoon of pesto and diluting it with a type of vinegar, a little more olive oil and sometimes mustard and, or, mayo.
For a quick snack, you can make a dip out of pesto by adding a 1:2 ratio of pesto to cream cheese (or sour cream or a combo of both).
So have you ever made pesto sauce before? It’s definitely worth the 5 mins, and you can make pesto out of ANYTHING—like this kale artichoke walnut pesto, or this sun dried tomato pesto.
If you’re a pistachio person like me, try boosting up the flavors by using pistachios instead of any nuts. While you’re thinking of pesto, you’ll have to try those pesto stuffed shrimps and those kale pesto stuffed mushrooms.
Pistachio lovers also need to try this pesto pistachio fish fillet and my signature goat cheese pistachio coated strawberries.……you’re welcome! Now enjoy 🙂
Tips for success:
- Make this pistachio pesto vegan by substituting the parmesan cheese with a tsp of mustard.
- For a plate of creamy pistachio pasta, add 1/4 cup of cream to the freshly cooked pasta along with the pesto.
- Finish your pasta with some freshly grated lemon zest and parmesan on top for the ultimate pasta experience!
Fettuccine With Pistachio Pesto Sauce
This Ultimate Pistachio Pesto with Basil & Spinach recipe is truly THE ultimate pesto sauce. Insanely delicious, bright, flavorful and loaded with pistachio goodness! It takes exactly 5 mins to make, keeps in your fridge for at least a month and you can use it on anything.
Ingredients
- 1 lb bag of fresh fettuccine pasta ( use gluten free pasta if needed)
For the pesto
- 1 cup packed basil leaves
- 1/2 cup packed spinach leaves
- 1/2 cup shelled pistachios
- 1 large garlic clove ( or 2 smaller ones)
- juice of 1 lemon ( about 1 tablespoon)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese ( use 1 teaspoon of mustard if vegan)
- 1/4 cup -1/3 cup of olive oil
Toppings
- Extra fresh grated Parmesan for sprinkling (optional)
- Lemon zest and crushed pistachios for sprinkling (optional)
- **optional: 1/4 cup of heavy cream
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions.
- In the meantime, make the pesto. In a food processor, place all the pesto ingredients except for the olive oil.
Process until the mixture is fine, then add in the olive oil and process until the is a smooth sauce (it will not be creamy smooth, but smooth).
When the pasta is done, drain it well. Then toss about 1/2 of the pesto (more or less to your taste) with the pasta and plate them. If you're turning this into a cream sauce, add the cream with pesto sauce t the cooked pasta right away.
- Drizzle a teaspoon more of the pesto on top of each pasta plate, and sprinkle with extra Parmesan cheese, lemon zest, and crushed pistachios if desired. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
- Make this pistachio pesto vegan by substituting the parmesan cheese with a tsp of mustard.
- For a plate of creamy pistachio pasta, add 1/4 cup of cream to the freshly cooked pasta along with the pesto.
- Finish your pasta with some freshly grated lemon zest and parmesan on top for the ultimate pasta experience!
I used spaghetti squash for fettucine because if being type-2 diabetic.
Great idea Mark !! Hope you enjoyed it 🙂