Tree Nut Free Basil-Pesto Endive Salad

Total time15 min

Prep time15 min

Cook time0 min

4.9

(29)

Bright, bitter endive leaves make the perfect edible scoop for a vivid, herb-forward pesto that comes together in minutes. The pesto here skips pine nuts entirely — it's built on fresh basil, garlic, lemon juice, and good olive oil, so every drop of that gorgeous green sauce is completely tree nut free without any substitutions or workarounds. Store-bought pestos can be a minefield of hidden nuts and shared-facility warnings, but blending your own at home puts you fully in control of what goes into the bowl. Each endive leaf gets a light smear of pesto right to the tip, then a scatter of paper-thin radishes, flat-leaf parsley, and a hit of lemon zest that makes the whole platter pop. The flaky sea salt finish ties everything together with just the right amount of crunch. It's elegant enough for a dinner party starter but genuinely easy enough to throw together on a weeknight when you want something fresh and a little unexpected.

About Fig

Fig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.

Learn more →

Ingredients

4 servings

For the pesto

2 oz fresh basil leaves (about 2 packed cups)
⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic, peeled
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
¼ tsp fine sea salt

For the salad

3 medium heads belgian endive (about 12 oz total)
4 radishes, thinly sliced
¼ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
1 tsp lemon zest
flaky sea salt, to taste

Instructions

1
Combine the basil leaves, garlic, lemon juice, and fine sea salt in a food processor. Pulse 6–8 times until the basil is roughly chopped and the garlic is minced.
2
With the processor running, stream in the olive oil in a slow, steady pour until the pesto is smooth and bright green, about 20–30 seconds. Taste and adjust salt or lemon juice as needed.

Want the full recipe?

Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!