Budget-Friendly Pesto
This Budget-Friendly Homemade Pesto uses sunflower seeds, basil, and spinach for a delicious and affordable twist on the classic.Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.
Servings: 8 servings (2 Tbsp each)
Ingredients
- 3 large garlic cloves minced, $0.24
- ¼ cup unsalted roasted sunflower seed kernels 33g, $0.38*
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese grated, (60g) $0.74
- 1 tsp salt $0.02
- 1½ cups fresh basil 40g, $1.99**
- 1½ cups fresh baby spinach $0.41**
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice $0.06
- ½ cup olive oil 4 oz., $1.52
Instructions
- Gather all ingredients. Wash and dry basil and baby spinach leaves thoroughly.
- In a food processor, add garlic, sunflower seeds, parmesan cheese, and salt, and pulse until chopped. Then, add basil and spinach leaves, continuing the process until roughly chopped.
- Add lemon juice, and then while the food processor is running on low, add the olive oil in a steady stream until smooth. Now it's ready to enjoy however you please!
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Notes
*Salted roasted sunflower seed kernels may be used, just remember to either reduce or completely eliminate the additional salt in the recipe.
**If you have a huge bumper crop of basil that needs to be used up, feel free to use only basil and no spinach. Same great taste; however, the finished product may not be as vibrantly green.
**Please do not substitute dried or frozen basil and/or spinach for this recipe. Fresh is best!
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving (2 Tbsp) | Calories: 175kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 17g | Sodium: 406mg | Fiber: 1g