Nightshade Free Turmeric-Ginger Mint Pistachio Pesto
This vibrant pesto swaps out the usual pine nuts and tomato-heavy accompaniments for a combination that's genuinely exciting on its own terms — fresh mint and basil blended with buttery pistachios, bright lemon, and a warming hit of turmeric and ginger. The result is a sauce that's herbaceous, a little earthy, and just complex enough to make you want to put it on everything. Traditional pesto is already a nightshade-free-friendly format, but this version leans fully into that by skipping even the optional cayenne and keeping every ingredient clean and plant-forward. The turmeric gives it a gorgeous golden hue while the fresh ginger adds a subtle zing that plays beautifully against the cooling mint. It comes together in a food processor in just a few pulses, making it one of those recipes that feels impressive but barely takes any effort. Drizzle it over roasted vegetables, toss it with pasta, spread it on flatbread, or use it as a dip — the possibilities are genuinely endless. Store it with a thin layer of olive oil pressed over the surface and it keeps beautifully, ready to elevate whatever you're cooking next.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
- 1 cup fresh mint leaves, packed
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves, packed
- ½ cup raw shelled pistachios
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated
- 2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
- ½ tsp lemon zest
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1–2 tbsp water, as needed
- pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
Can be omittedcayenne pepper
Instructions
- 1
Add the mint, basil, pistachios, turmeric, grated ginger, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, black pepper, and cayenne (if using) to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse 8–10 times until the mixture is coarsely chopped and the herbs are broken down.
- 2
With the processor running, stream in the olive oil through the feed tube until the pesto comes together into a thick, slightly textured paste, about 20–30 seconds. Scrape down the sides once midway through.
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