This Parsley Pesto is a simple and delicious homemade pesto sauce! It’s made with a few simple ingredients, including spinach which gives it a healthy boost and a vibrant green color. Toss this easy pesto with pasta or use it as a sauce for fish, chicken, steak, or pork. It also makes a great salad dressing!
Table of contents
Yes, there’s traditional basil pesto, but there are so many other ways to make this easy sauce. So, today it’s all about parsley pesto with spinach.
Doesn’t it look like a bowl of sunshine? So fresh and happy. This spinach parsley pesto is perfect any time of year when you’re craving something fresh and bright.
Ingredients
- Pine nuts – or you can swap them out for walnuts or almonds.
- Garlic cloves
- Fresh spinach leaves
- Fresh flat-leaf parsley
- Shredded asiago cheese or Parmesan cheese
- Lemon zest and lemon juice
- Kosher salt
- Olive oil
Easy Homemade Parsley Pesto: Recipe Steps
Place the nuts, garlic, spinach, parsley, cheese, lemon juice and zest, and salt in the food processor.
Pulse until the mixture is finely chopped. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed so everything is well combined.
With the food processor running, slowly pour the olive oil into the mixture. I like about a 1/3 of a cup of oil, but you can add more if you like a thinner sauce.
How long does parsley pesto keep?
This pesto will keep in the fridge for up to a week. Be sure to store it in an airtight container.
You can also freeze it. Place it in a freezer container and drizzle a thin layer of olive oil over the surface of the pesto before securing the lid. You can also freeze small amounts in an ice cube tray and tightly wrap it with a few layers of plastic wrap. Frozen pesto will keep for several months.
How to Use It
There are so many ways to use parsley pesto! Here are just a few ideas:
- Toss it with hot pasta and some grated Parmesan cheese.
- Make pesto pasta salad.
- Use it as a sandwich spread or for wraps like my avocado wrap.
- It’s great spooned on grilled chicken, pork, steak, or fish.
- Spread it on pizza dough before adding other cheese and toppings.
- Mix it with cream cheese for bagels or toast.
- Thin it with more olive oil and use it as a salad dressing.
I just love the flavors in this spinach parsley pesto! It’s bright and fresh – I hope you give it a try soon.
Happy blending,
More Homemade Pesto Recipes
- Fresh Basil Pesto
- Roasted Garlic Pesto
- Beet Greens Pesto
- Carrot Greens Pesto
- Pesto with Walnuts
- Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto – From Amanda’s Cookin’
📣 Do you love this recipe? I would love to know! Leave a comment below the recipe, along with your recipe star rating.
PrintSpinach Parsley Pesto
This Parsley Pesto is a quick and easy sauce that is full of fresh flavors. Spinach adds a healthy kick, and pine nuts and Asiago cheese add delicious flavor and texture. Toss it with hot pasta for an easy meal, or use it as a spread for sandwiches, toast, or bagels. It’s also delicious with grilled meat or as a sauce for vegetables.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 1 cup of pesto 1x
- Category: Sauces
- Method: Blend
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1/4 cups pine nuts
- 2 garlic cloves
- 5 cups fresh spinach
- 2 cups fresh parsley
- 1/4 cup shredded asiago cheese
- Zest of one lemon
- Juice of 1/2 a lemon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or more to taste)
- 1/3 cup olive oil, plus 1 tablespoon
Instructions
- In a food processor or blender first chop up the pine nuts and garlic, pulsing several times.
- Add in the spinach, parsley, asiago cheese, lemon zest and juice and salt. Blend until smooth stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl, if necessary.
- Slowly drizzle in 1/3 cup of olive oil while blending. You may want to add more depending on how thick you want the sauce.
- Makes approximately 1 cup of pesto.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 259
- Sugar: 0.7g
- Sodium: 428.6mg
- Fat: 25.8g
- Saturated Fat: 4.4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4.4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6.3g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 3.6mg
Keywords: parsley pesto, spinach parsley pesto recipe
The nutrition is an estimate only. It was calculated using Nutrifox, an online nutrition calculator.
Photos and post updated from the archives. First published in January 2015.
Laura Roth says
Delicious! I used frozen spinach and parsley and just increased the parsley to spinach ratio and it turned out perfect!
★★★★★
April Anderson says
Love that you used frozen spinach – glad you liked it!
Petra says
Very amused by your comment about the pesto police, April! I used to feel the same but I’ve made pesto from kale now (slightly blanched first) and a mixture of basil with parsley and probably other things but first time with spinach and parsley. Didn’t bother measuring parsley and spinach – just used significant amounts of both and used brazil nuts instead of pine nuts and parmesan instead of asiago simply because that’s what I had. Delicious! Will try again with pine nuts when I have them and asiago (or other cheeses).
★★★★★
Ashley says
The recipe says 1/4 pine nuts. Is this 1/4 of a cup?
April says
Oh, thank you for pointing that out – it’s 1/4 cup and I’ve updated the recipe!
Jenn says
Could this be more vibrant and lovely!? I plan on eating this beautiful pesto all Spring and Summer long!
★★★★★
Kristen Cold says
Wow! looks delicious! how long would you say it lasts in the fridge?
April says
Thanks! It should keep in the fridge up to a week.
Shannon says
This looks delicious, what a great way to dress up pasta. I cannot wait to try this! I would love if you checked out my blog too!
Heather @ Heather's Sweets and Treats says
Yes, that bright green color is a perfect pick me up for this winter weather! Love it!
April says
It’s happy pesto!
Denise | Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Love that bright green color! Looks like a wonderful pesto variation!
The Steaming Pot says
As a spinach fan, I’m sure I’m going to love this pesto. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
Wow this is probably the best pesto I have seen! The colour of it is just so incredible. I have to make your recipe!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
It’s summer and every thing I see I want to make pesto out of. I love the spinach parsley combo.
★★★★★
Annie @ ciaochowbambina says
We all have our list of favorite foods and pesto is firmly planted on my list. I have never made it with anything but basil but now you’ve given me cause to step outside the box! This looks great! So bright and fresh!!
★★★★★