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    Home » Recipes » Condiments & Sauces

    Published: Jul 29, 2013 · Modified: Jun 20, 2019 by Paula Montenegro · Income from ads and affiliate links 15 Comments

    Spinach Lemon Pesto

    Jump to Recipe

    Bright green and flavorful, this easy pesto recipe comes together in minutes and is good for pasta, sandwiches, and meats, especially grilled chicken.

    Spinach pesto in a grey bowl.

    Oh, the wonders and versatility of pesto.

    Today I'm sharing a spur-of-the-moment spinach lemon pine nut pesto that came to be due to leftovers in my fridge.

    Pestos are very easy condiments that come together in ten minutes and are great not only on pasta but also as a spread for sandwiches, with cold grilled meats, and in soups.

    Yellow bowl with whole wheat short pasta, pesto and pine nuts.

    Though the original has basil and walnuts, there are many different ones nowadays, like the sun-dried tomato pesto and the cilantro pesto.

    Collage with bowl containing pesto, spinach and lemon on wooden board, and ingredients in food processor.
    Table of Contents Hide
    How to make pesto
    Spinach Lemon Pesto

    How to make pesto

    It's a matter of mixing the ingredients together until you have a puree. Or leave some texture in it and make it rustic.

    • Immersion blender: I like to use it because I can puree the pesto directly in the container.
    • Food processor: also a favorite way to make pesto because I can achieve the texture I want and make a larger batch.
    • Blender: it does the work well but I find it tedious to try to transfer the pesto to a container. So I hardly ever use it for this.
    Whole wheat short pasta and green bowl with fork holding a bite of pesto pasta. A collage.

    Let me know in the comments below if you made this recipe and loved it and if you had issues so we can troubleshoot together. I love to hear what you think, always. Thanks for being here. It's much appreciated.
    You might also consider subscribing to our FREE email series to Boost your Home Baking Skills! And our regular newsletter.
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    Spinach pesto in a grey bowl.

    Spinach Lemon Pesto

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    Easy and versatile, it comes together in 15 minutes and can be used for pasta, chicken, and sandwiches.

    • Total Time: 15 minutes
    • Yield: 1 cup

    Ingredients

    Units
    • 2 cups fresh spinach, washed
    • ½ cup fresh parsley
    • ½ cup fresh arugula
    • ¼ cup pine nuts
    • 1 shallot, minced
    • 2 to 4 teaspoons lemon juice (of ¼ to ½ a lemon)
    • ⅓ cup olive oil
    • Salt
    • Freshly ground black pepper
    • 12 oz. short pasta, cooked
    • Grated parmesan cheese, to serve

    Instructions

    1. Put all ingredients, except pasta, in the bowl of a food processor, fitted with the metal blade.
    2. Process for 30 seconds, or until a paste forms.
    3. Check seasonings and continue to process until it’s puréed to your liking.
    4. Use immediately or transfer to an airtight container, and a thin layer of olive oil on top, to prevent oxidation.
    5. Keep refrigerated.
    6. Cook pasta al dente according to package directions, toss with pesto, sprinkle with grated parmesan, some extra pine nuts if you want to, and serve.
    • Author: Paula Montenegro
    • Prep Time: 15 minutes
    • Category: Condiments
    • Method: Mixing
    • Cuisine: International

    Keywords: spinach pesto

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @vintagekitchenblog on Instagram and hashtag it #vintagekitchenblog

    More Condiments & Sauces

    • Fresh Peach Chutney
    • Homemade Cherry Sauce (topping)
    • Quick & Easy Berry Compote
    • Easy Blueberry Compote

    About Paula Montenegro

    I'm Paula, a baker for more than 30 years and your designated recipe developer, sharing the best ones here with simple ingredients + easy-to-follow instructions.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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    1. Angie Schneider says

      July 31, 2013 at 8:44 am

      wow..you guest post for two blogs? That's really sweet of you, Paula.
      Love pesto!

      Reply
    2. e / dig in says

      July 31, 2013 at 7:20 am

      smothering pesto over pasta or veg and calling it a meal - me too paula. i can't wait for summer to be here and the basil in full flory so i can make my own pesto - but now i am tempted to try this gorgeous green version!

      Reply
    3. laurasmess.me says

      July 30, 2013 at 11:16 pm

      Oh yay! I love new recipes for pesto. I definitely agree, it's such an incredibly versatile addition to mid-week meals. I actually tossed some traditional pesto through mushrooms and asparagus on the weekend, then just ate them with extra parmesan and bread! So good. Heading over to Alice's blog now xx

      Reply
    4. Laura Dembowski says

      July 30, 2013 at 12:45 pm

      This dish definitely looks comforting but at the same time light and fresh! So great to use spinach!

      Reply
    5. Andrea_TheKitchenLioness says

      July 30, 2013 at 11:52 am

      Paula, I know you always have the most interesting pesto recipes - this recipe is another fabulous one as spinach, lemon and pine nuts are a heavenly combination and I do love those wholewheat noodles as well!
      Great post, Paula!

      Reply
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    Hi, I'm Paula!

    A baker for more than 30 years and your designated recipe finder, sharing the best ones on this blog, with simple ingredients + easy-to-follow instructions.

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