Give your leftover carrot tops a second life with this vibrant vegan pesto. Blitz raw carrot greens with basil, mint, lemon juice, almonds, and olive oil to create a flavourful, zero-waste sauce perfect for pasta, grains, pizza, salad, or eggs.
Vibrant Carrot Top Pesto Recipe
Packed with flavour, this vegan carrot top pesto is the perfect topping for pasta, rice, pizza, salads and even eggs.
Bright, herby and zesty, it’s a delicious way to reduce food waste and make the most of every part of your veg.
Whip it up in minutes for a vibrant, homemade alternative to shop-bought pesto, fresh, nutty, and endlessly versatile.
Zero-Waste Cooking: Inspired by Tom Hunt’s Root to fruit manifesto, this recipe uses the leafy green carrot tops (like in my Carrot Top Soup) which often go to waste. Blended with basil, a hint of mint, lemon juice, almonds and olive oil, they make a really tasty sauce.
Remember to use the whole carrot: tops for pesto, roots for roasting, and peels for stock.
How To Use This Carrot Top Pesto
This carrot top pesto is really versatile. It is perfect for pasta and grains but can also be used as:
- A spread: On sandwiches, toasts, flatbreads, and pizzas.
- As a seasoning: Stir a spoonful into soups for an added boost of flavour or drizzle it over roasted vegetables or eggs.
- As a dip: serve with crackers, raw vegetables, fries, and breads.
Top Tips
Is It Necessary To Blanch The Carrot Tops Before Blending?
There is no need to blanch or cook the carrot tops beforehand. Instead, you can simply blitz the raw ingredients in a food processor or blender until you get your desired consistency. I prefer mixing the olive oil afterwards to avoid any bitter aftertaste.
Substituting The Almonds
Instead of pine nuts (they have become so expensive!), I have used almonds which can easily be swapped for cashews, sunflower seeds, or walnuts. For maximum flavour, make sure you use some high-quality extra virgin olive oil.
Storage Tips
This carrot top pesto can be stored refrigerated in an airtight container for about 4–5 days. To keep the pesto vibrant and green, simply pour a thin layer of olive oil on top pf the pesto before closing the jar or container.
Other Homemade Pesto Recipes You Might Like
In this post
How To Make This Carrot Top Pesto Recipe
Ingredients Needed
To make this carrot top pesto you will need:
- leafy green carrot tops from 1 bunch of carrots
- garlic
- basil
- mint leaves
- unsalted almonds
- extra virgin olive oil
- salt
- lemon juice
- pepper
Step 1: Blitz Ingredients
Roughly chop carrot tops, basil and mint. Place in food processor with crushed garlic and almonds. Blitz together until the mixture has a fine texture.
Step 2: Store or Serve This Carrot Top Pesto
Transfer to a bowl. Mix in olive oil, salt and lemon juice. Season with some freshly ground pepper. Transfer to airtight jars. Keep refrigerated when not using.
I hope you enjoy this carrot top pesto recipe as much as I do. If you do make it, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram!
Carrot Top Pesto
Equipment
Disclaimer: the equipment list above includes affiliate links to products I use and like.
Watch How To Make This Recipe
Ingredients
- leafy green carrot tops from 1 bunch of carrots
- 2 garlic cloves crushed
- 28 g basil
- 10 g mint leaves
- 75 g unsalted almonds
- 125 ml extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
- pepper
Instructions
- Roughly chop carrot tops, basil and mint. Place in food processor with crushed garlic and almonds. Blitz together until the mixture has a fine texture.leafy green carrot tops from 1 bunch of carrots, 2 garlic cloves crushed, 28 g basil , 75 g unsalted almonds , 10 g mint leaves
- Transfer to a bowl. Mix in olive oil, salt and lemon juice. Season with some freshly ground pepper. Transfer to airtight jars. Keep refrigerated when not using.125 ml extra virgin olive oil , 1/2 tsp salt, 2 Tbsp lemon juice, pepper
Nutrition
Find this recipe online:
https://theflexitarian.co.uk/recipe-items/carrot-top-pesto-vegan/
I cannot wait to see your posts!
Other Things You Might Like
Leave a Reply