Carrots in the summer are so beautiful. Every farmer’s market stand has them on display with their frilly, green tops still attached. They’re just too pretty to get rid of! Carrot tops have a light carrot-y flavor, but are a little pepper-y like arugula. The green tops are perfect blended into a sauce like a carrot top pesto. Carrot top pesto is great for some hot, long noodles or mixed into a smaller pasta for a pasta salad.
I used mine with some capellini pasta. The pesto was thinned out with some pasta water and some frozen peas were added! You can also just make a Basil Pesto if you aren’t feeling too adventurous to try carrot tops. 🙂
Ingredients:
Carrot tops: I think the carrot tops here can really be substituted with a multitude of herbs to make a beautiful sauce. Sub with basil for a more traditional pesto or go wild with parsley and cilantro.
Pine nuts and walnuts: I like the combination and flavor of both! If you could only pick one, I would not skip the pine nuts.
Pecorino romano: my favored salty hard cheese!
Lemon juice: You can substitute this with any acid! I used a Meyer lemon vinegar too and it was lovely.
Olive oil: I got a coupon to try this new one, Colive, that is very tasty but also has a beautiful mission.
Carrot Top Pesto
Equipment
- 1 blender or food processor
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup pine nuts
- 1/3 cup walnuts
- 2 cups packed carrot tops
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/4 cup Pecorino Romano
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- salt
- pepper
Instructions
- Toasted your pine nuts and walnuts in the oven until golden brown and fragrant. They can be toasted in a pan or in the oven at 350F for 3-5 minutes.
- While toasting, wash your carrot tops and trim off any leafy bits that are wilted or dry. Cut into smaller chunks to more easily fit into a food processor or blender.
- After nuts have toasted, add nuts, garlic, and cheese to blend first until into a smaller grit.
- Add carrot tops and pulse until mostly blended.
- Continue blending and drizzle in olive oil. Reduce or add additional as necessary until achieved desired consistency.
- Add lemon juice, salt, and pepper to taste.
- Mix into some pasta or serve alongside some bread or crackers!
Try this pesto with Pesto Roasted Potatoes