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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Author Notes: 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! - em-i-lis
Food52 Review: 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? - A&M
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!
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about 1 month ago millicent
just made it, so easy and so yum!!
about 1 month ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Hi Millicent, Thank you!! I love its ease and do think it's delish! I'm glad you liked it!
10 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!
9 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!!!
10 months ago Cndy
I made this tonight with grilled lamb chops. It was heavenly!
10 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Oh, I'm so glad!! Thank you for writing!
10 months ago JanetFL
This pesto was fabulous on grilled peaches, Em!
10 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. :)
10 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!
10 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. :)
10 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.
10 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!
10 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!
10 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.
10 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!
10 months ago Waverly
Congratulations! The combination of mint and pistachios sounds summery and fresh. I can't wait to try it.
10 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Thank you so much, waverly!! I hope you like it.
10 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!!!
10 months ago inpatskitchen
Congratulations on your win! Very well deserved!
10 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Thank you so much, inpatskitchen. I really appreciate your note!
10 months ago gingerroot
Well deserved Congrats!! Can't wait to try this.
10 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
i really appreciate that, gingerroot! hope you like it!
10 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!
10 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
thank you so much!!!
10 months ago healthierkitchen
Woo hoo! look forward to making this!
10 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
thank you, w! i hope you enjoy!!
10 months ago fiveandspice
Emily is a trusted source on Scandinavian Cuisine.
Hip hip hurrah! Congrats on the win!
10 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
huge thanks, 5&S! ;)
10 months ago sdebrango
Suzanne is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Congratulations, so happy for you!! Such wonderful recipe and a well deserved win.
10 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
thank you so much, suzanne. that means a lot to me!
10 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!
10 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
i would love it even if i could hear you singing. ;)
10 months ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
Congratulations, em! What a great version of pesto.
10 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Thank you so much, hla! I really appreciate that!!
10 months ago mrslarkin
Mrs. Larkin is a trusted source on Baking.
Congrats Emily! This pesto sounds lovely. And delicious!
10 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Thank you so much, Liz!!!
10 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!
10 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!! :)
10 months ago Sugartoast
Yipeeeee! CONGRATULATIONS, dear you!!!! A quintessential Em-i-lis recipe: beautiful seasonal ingredients offering an ingenious twist on a classic dish.
10 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Thank you so much for this lovely(!), complimentary note, sugartoast! Wow! :)
10 months ago Bevi
Congrats! This sounds wonderful!
10 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Thank you so much, Bevi!!
10 months ago Maria Teresa Jorge
Great take on pesto, congratulations!
10 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Thanks so much, Maria Teresa!
10 months ago healthierkitchen
Congrats Emily!! This sounds terrific!
10 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Thank you so much, Wendy!! Hope you are doing well!
10 months ago fiveandspice
Emily is a trusted source on Scandinavian Cuisine.
Congratulations em-i-lis!!! I'm so excited this is a finalist! I think we have all the ingredients for it around, so it is going to go on the menu very soon!
10 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Oh, fantastic, fiveandspice. Thanks so much for your note!!!
10 months ago Madhuja
This looks amazing em-i-lis! Congratulations on being a finalist!
10 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Thanks a million, Madhuja!!
10 months ago Summer of Eggplant
I tested this recipe and I can say first hand it is something special.
10 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Wow! Thank you so much, summer of eggplant!!! I really appreciate that!
10 months ago Summer of Eggplant
Woo-Hoo! Congratulations!
10 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
huge thanks, summer of e!!
10 months ago EmilyC
Many congrats on being a finalist!
10 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
thank you, emily!!
10 months ago BlueKaleRoad
Congratulations! This is a terrific flavor combination and I can imagine enjoying it all summer long.
10 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Thanks, Hannah!! I hope you like it!
10 months ago JanetFL
Congratulations to you, Em! I knew you'd be a finalist!
10 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Thank you, Janet!! I really appreciate that!
10 months ago gingerroot
Congrats em-i-lis! This sounds fabulous.
10 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Thank you so much, gingerroot!!!!
10 months ago Midge
Yay em-i-lis! Can't wait to try this!
10 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Thank you, Midge!! I hope you like it! I'm still eating your rhubarb scones...
10 months ago drbabs
Barbara is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Congratulations on being a finalist, em!
10 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Thank you so much, drb!
10 months ago sdebrango
Suzanne is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Congrats Em on the finalist nod, totally deserved. A great recipe!!
10 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Thank you Suzanne! This means a lot to me!
10 months ago boulangere
Cynthia is a trusted source on Bread/Baking.
Congratulations, Em!
10 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Thank you, b!! :)
10 months ago savorthis
Congrats! We make a green couscous with an herby paste similar to this with mint and tarragon and pistachios folded in. I like the idea of blending it all together and agree it sounds great with lamb or grilled peaches.
10 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Thank you savorthis! Your couscous sounds marvelous!
10 months ago meganvt01
Congrats on being a finalist em-i-lis!
10 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
thank you so much, megan! wow! I'm so shocked and thrilled!! :)
10 months ago meganvt01
@ janet - Lamb sounds perfect with this pesto!! on the menu for this weekend - this looks awesome.
10 months ago JanetFL
You will love it! I've saved your winning recipe and can't wait to try it!
10 months ago JanetFL
I can confirm that it is delicious on grilled lamb.....and also spread on baguette slices with goat cheese. Very versatile!
10 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Thank you so much, JanetFL! I'm glad you tried it and let us know!!!
10 months ago JanetFL
Our Colorado peaches are slow to market this summer but this is definitely on my peach recipe list!
10 months ago Dourmet
As soon as I saw this recipe I thought, this must be incredible with grilled lamb! Can't wait to try it! I bet it would make a great topping to a lamb burger, maybe with a bit of crumbled feta on top....
10 months ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Thanks, Dourmet! Your idea sounds great!
11 months ago sdebrango
Suzanne is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Yes delicious with steak and I could definitely have with peaches too! I think it would make an amazing marinade for lamb also. Love this!