What's the best nut to sub in for pine nuts in arugula pesto?

I was in Indonesia for a couple of months and used the local cashews as a substitute. It worked very well!

I was in Indonesia for a couple of months and used the local cashews as a substitute. It worked very well!

For the flavor of arugula, I'd sub toasted walnuts. The toasted part is important.

1st choice: walnuts, 2nd Pistachio, 3 toasted pumpkin seeds..

almonds are good in pesto

Shelled hemp seeds make a great substitute. And they are so good for you!

Pumpkin seeds aka pepitas!!

Yes, my former Italian relatives would sub in toasted walnut. I suspect toasted pecan pieces would also work. Did you know pesto freezes very well? I make big batches and freeze in small ziploc bags ... The secret is leave the cheese out and put in fresh when you have thawed the pesto mix that you froze.

Me too - walnuts are wonderful. Love the flavor they add.

I agree with Lexmccall walnuts are a very good sub for pine nuts.

I always use walnuts if I'm out of pine nuts (or too cheap to buy them), but I've had some great pistachio pestos, too. I'm not sure there's a "best" answer here, or a wrong answer, for that matter...