Mint-Pistachio Pesto
em-i-lis suggests serving this "pesto of the gods" with steak, tortillas, and corn -- or grilled peaches!
A simple palette of greens (mint, pistachios, lime) and whites (garlic, olive oil, salt).
Assembly is half the game with this recipe. First, add cleaned and trimmed mint leaves to your food processor.
Toss in the pistachios: em-i-lis uses roasted and salted nuts for extra flavor.
Just a bit of garlic -- one clove's worth -- goes a long way.
Salt rounds out the first stage of the recipe.
Would you believe that you're halfway done?
Buzz together the ingredients. For puritans and the very patient: a mortar and pestle works, too.
Stop when the ingredients are coarsely ground and about even in size.
Now get the machine running again, but this time blend in the oil to make a puree.
Add lime juice to taste until the flavors come together -- start with just a quarter of a lime.
And that's a wrap!
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A&M say: WHO: em-i-lis is a stay-at-home mom and avid cook.
WHAT: A stunningly simple pesto as you've never seen it before with mint, pistachio, and lime.
HOW: If you can turn your food processor on, you can make this pesto -- but a mortar and pestle is welcome, too.
WHY WE LOVE IT: The pesto's slightly chunky texture allows the individual flavors to shine through while adding them all up into something even greater. And what wouldn't be better with a dollop of pesto on it?
em-i-lis says: I love mint and pistachios and really, pesto is of the gods. I'm going to serve this with grilled steaks, tortillas and corn tonight! I also think it'd be fantastic with grilled peaches!
Serves 2
- 1 cup mint leaves
- 1/3 cup roasted, salted, shelled pistachios
- 1 small clove garlic, peeled
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- juice of 1/4 lime
- Put the mint leaves, pistachios, garlic and salt into a small food processor or into a mortar. Process or crush until coarsely ground. In a steady stream, add the oil and lime juice until the consistency is of your liking. Voila!
- Your Best Recipe with Mint Contest Winner!






6 months ago juliana
I put this delicious pesto over Israeli cous cous and corn--bright summer meal. I'll be making this again and again!
6 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Thank you so much for your note, Juliana! I'm really happy you enjoyed the pesto, and your use of it sounds wonderful!!!
7 months ago Cndy
I made this tonight with grilled lamb chops. It was heavenly!
7 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Oh, I'm so glad!! Thank you for writing!
7 months ago JanetFL
This pesto was fabulous on grilled peaches, Em!
7 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Oh wow, Janet, thank you! Can you believe i have not tried that combo yet?! I'm so glad you did and that it was so good. :)
7 months ago MrsBeeton
We had a pesto with mint and toasted pumpkin seeds on a recent trip to Salzburg (it was served with tagliatelle)--it was divine, and I'm guessing this is, too! Thanks for a great recipe!
7 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
ooh, that does sound marvelous. thank you so much for your note. i hope you like this if you try it. :)
7 months ago bodeswell
This is pretty spectacular; it should be the centerpiece of any meal it's applied to. I was dubious about the lime juice, but that was a perfect foil for the unctuousness of the other ingredients. I did keep adding olive oil until it reached the consistency I wanted, but I would guess it's hard to overwhelm these flavors, so keep pouring. The nuts seem to soak up the oil; this may vary depending on how old and how roasted they are.
7 months ago EatDrinkLyon
Ah....mine aren't roasted with salt (can't get here in Lyon) but were quite moist /soft to begin with. I'll add a bit more oil... Thanks for the advice. too good to waste!
7 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
thank you so much for the compliment, bodeswell and for the advice to eatdrinklyon! let us know how it turns out!
7 months ago EatDrinkLyon
I made this but....it didn't turn out like the picture at all! In fact, I've ended up with a sort of thick 'mint-pistachio nut butter'. I added more lime juice - can't add much more oil for fear of totally overwhelming the flavour with olive oil.... Disappointed because the ingredients weren't cheap! I'm going to smear it on bruschetta with some creamy white beans on top so it won't be wasted, but I had planned to drizzle it on salmon. At the moment it's a big thick blob, can't be drizzled! ! Nice flavours though.
7 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Oh dear, I haven't experienced this at all. Anyone else? I'm sorry yours didn't turn out!
7 months ago Waverly
Congratulations! The combination of mint and pistachios sounds summery and fresh. I can't wait to try it.
7 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Thank you so much, waverly!! I hope you like it.
7 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
I just want to say thank you to all of you for your warm and wonderful support. What a terrific community. Many, many thanks!!!
7 months ago inpatskitchen
Congratulations on your win! Very well deserved!
7 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Thank you so much, inpatskitchen. I really appreciate your note!
7 months ago gingerroot
Well deserved Congrats!! Can't wait to try this.
7 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
i really appreciate that, gingerroot! hope you like it!
7 months ago chimera
Yay Em!!! I'll make this when I get back to NJ - we're swimming in mint at the local store. So excited for you!
7 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
thank you so much!!!
7 months ago healthierkitchen
Woo hoo! look forward to making this!
7 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
thank you, w! i hope you enjoy!!
7 months ago fiveandspice
Emily is a trusted source on Scandinavian Cuisine.
Hip hip hurrah! Congrats on the win!
7 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
huge thanks, 5&S! ;)
7 months ago sdebrango
Congratulations, so happy for you!! Such wonderful recipe and a well deserved win.
7 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
thank you so much, suzanne. that means a lot to me!
7 months ago boulangere
Cynthia is a trusted source on Bread/Baking.
Congratulations to you! imagine that being sung to the tune of Happy Birthday, and thank your lucky stars you can't hear me singing!
7 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
i would love it even if i could hear you singing. ;)
7 months ago hardlikearmour
Congratulations, em! What a great version of pesto.
7 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Thank you so much, hla! I really appreciate that!!
7 months ago mrslarkin
Mrs. Larkin is a trusted source on Baking.
Congrats Emily! This pesto sounds lovely. And delicious!
7 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Thank you so much, Liz!!!
7 months ago calendargirl
Emily, this is definitely going to go on some peaches I just got at the farmers' market. It also occurred to me it could be kind of amazing on coconut gelato. Congratulations!
7 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Thank you so much calendargirl!! Do let me know how you like it on the peaches and if you try the gelato. Neat idea!! :)
7 months ago Sugartoast
Yipeeeee! CONGRATULATIONS, dear you!!!! A quintessential Em-i-lis recipe: beautiful seasonal ingredients offering an ingenious twist on a classic dish.
7 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Thank you so much for this lovely(!), complimentary note, sugartoast! Wow! :)
7 months ago Bevi
Congrats! This sounds wonderful!
7 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Thank you so much, Bevi!!