Macadamia Nut Pesto

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Macadamia Nut Pesto | Delish D'Lites

I love, love, love pesto!  It’s so rich and creamy and green and delicious, pesto just screams fresh!  I love putting it on anything…pizzas, pasta, shrimp, chicken, lamb, eggs, the possibilities are endless!  I usually don’t have pine nuts at home, but I usually have macadamia nuts.  So, when I ended up with a big pile of basil, and I wanted pesto, this macadamia nut pesto came to life.  The creaminess of the macadamia nuts meld perfectly with the flavors of the sweet basil, pungent garlic and salty Parmesan cheese.

ingredients

2 cups tightly packed fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup Parmiggiano-Reggiano Cheese, grated
2 garlic cloves, peeled
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon fresh-squeezed lemon juice
1/3 cup Macadamia nuts, toasted
kosher salt and freshly-ground pepper, to taste

directions

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Toast the macadamia nuts on a sheet pan until they’re lightly golden brown, about 5-7 minutes.  Remove them from the oven and set them aside to cool.

Macadamia Nut Pesto | Delish D'Lites

In a food processor fitted with the chopping blade, add the basil, garlic, cheese and Macadamia nuts.

Macadamia Nut Pesto | Delish D'Lites

Process everything in the food processor until it’s a fine paste.  Then, with the food processor still on, drizzle in the lemon juice and 1/2 cup of oil.  Season the pesto with salt and pepper.

Macadamia Nut Pesto | Delish D'Lites

This recipe makes about 1 cup of pesto.

Macadamia Nut Pesto | Delish D'Lites

Storing Pesto

Pesto will keep for up to 4 weeks in a covered container in the refrigerator. Pour a thin film of olive oil on top of the pesto to prevent discoloration and cover with plastic wrap.

Macadamia Nut Pesto | Delish D'Lites

Freezing Pesto

I love to freeze pesto in ice cube trays. Spray an ice cube tray with non-stick spray and fill each space with the pesto. When frozen, remove each cube and store in a freezer bag. You will be able to take out as many of the pesto cubes as you need. Usually one cube is enough for adding flavor to a red pasta sauce or a pot of soup.

Macadamia Nut Pesto | Delish D'Lites

5 from 3 votes
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Macadamia Nut Pesto

Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 1 cup
Author Delish D'Lites

Ingredients

  • 2 cups tightly packed fresh basil leaves
  • 1/2 cup Parmiggiano-Reggiano Cheese grated
  • 2 garlic cloves peeled
  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon fresh-squeezed lemon juice
  • 1/3 cup Macadamia nuts toasted
  • kosher salt and freshly-ground pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Toast the macadamia nuts on a sheet pan until they're lightly golden brown, about 5-7 minutes.
  3. Remove them from the oven and set them aside to cool.
  4. In a food processor fitted with the chopping blade, add the basil, garlic, cheese and Macadamia nuts. Process everything in the food processor until it's a fine paste.
  5. Then, with the food processor still on, drizzle in the lemon juice and 1/2 cup of oil.
  6. Season the pesto with salt and pepper.

Recipe Notes

Pesto will keep for up to 4 weeks in a covered container in the refrigerator. Pour a thin film of olive oil on top of the pesto to prevent discoloration and cover with plastic wrap.
I love to freeze pesto in ice cube trays. I like to spray an ice cube tray with non-stick spray and fill each space with the pesto. When frozen, remove each cube and store in a freezer bag. You will be able to take out as many of the pesto cubes as you need. Usually one cube is enough for adding flavor to a red pasta sauce or a pot of soup.

Macadamia Nut Pesto

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4 Responses

  1. This is similar to a recipe I’ve made for years….however, I’ve added 4 cloves of garlic instead of 2 and it’s delicious.

  2. 5 stars
    We live in Hawaii — this is always on hand! Great on chicken or a pizza or use with a jar of alfredo for a quick and SPECIAL sauce for chicken or pasta.

  3. 5 stars
    Your pesto looks ten times better than any pesto I’ve ever made! I can’t wait to try your recipe. Macadamia nuts! Thanks for the secret.

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Hola

I’m Jannese, Founder of Delish D’lites

I’m a Puerto Rican girl living in paradise (Florida), and the creative mind behind Delish D’Lites. I love sharing my family recipes and travel inspired cuisine! My favorite things include collecting passport stamps, twerking to Latin music, and kissing puppies. Follow along on social.