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Carrot Top Pesto

Don’t throw away those carrot tops. Transform them into a carrot top pesto. This delicious and colorful pesto is great used as a dip or a topping on your favorite cracker.
June 01, 2016

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds of orange carrots with feathery tops
  • 2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped
  • 3 tablespoons blanched almonds or pine nuts
  • ½ cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves
  • ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan or Asiago cheese
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon white pepper
  • ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil (additional for a creamier pesto)

Preparation

Wash and dry carrots and green tops. Remove the feathery greens and set aside. Discard any tough stems.

Scrub carrots and dry with paper towel. If desired, peel the carrots. Cut into thin coins. Place the greens, carrots, nuts, basil leaves, salt, white pepper and cheese in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse to combine. With the processor on, drizzle in ½ cup olive oil. If you prefer a creamy pesto, add additional olive oil.

Store pesto in the refrigerator or freeze for later use.

Cooking

Watch the Video

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds of orange carrots with feathery tops
  • 2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped
  • 3 tablespoons blanched almonds or pine nuts
  • ½ cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves
  • ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan or Asiago cheese
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon white pepper
  • ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil (additional for a creamier pesto)