Mediterranean Diet Friendly Walnut Pesto Lentil Spread
This spread is the kind of thing you make once and then find yourself thinking about all week. Cooked green or brown lentils form a hearty, protein-rich base, while toasted walnuts and fresh basil come together in a quick food processor pesto that's fragrant, nutty, and deeply satisfying. A hit of lemon juice, garlic, and warm spices like cumin and turmeric give it a complexity that goes way beyond your average dip. Everything here — the olive oil, the legumes, the nuts, the fresh herbs — lines up beautifully with the plant-forward, whole-food principles that make this style of eating so appealing and sustainable. The technique is simple: simmer the lentils until tender, toast the walnuts until golden, then pulse everything together until you hit that perfect creamy-but-textured consistency. Serve it with sliced vegetables or crackers and a drizzle of good extra virgin olive oil, and it works as an appetizer, a snack, or an easy lunch spread. It's the kind of recipe that makes eating well feel genuinely effortless.
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Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
For the lentils
- ¾ cup green or brown lentils, rinsed
- 2 cups water
- ¼ tsp salt
For the pesto-walnut base
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves, packed
- ¾ cup raw walnuts
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- 2 tbsp lemon juice (from about 1 lemon)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ tsp ground cumin
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp salt, or to taste
For serving
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, roughly chopped (optional)
- sliced vegetables or gluten free crackers, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the rinsed lentils, water, and 1/4 tsp salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a steady simmer and cook uncovered for 20–25 minutes, until the lentils are completely tender and have absorbed most of the water.
- 2
Drain any remaining liquid through a fine-mesh strainer and spread the lentils on a plate or sheet pan. Let them cool for 10 minutes until no longer steaming.
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