Carrot Top Pesto

A twist on a traditional pesto recipe, Carrot Top Pesto is an easy recipe that takes homemade pesto to an all new level of flavor!  Fresh carrot top greens and toasted pistachios are a delightful flavor combination in this homemade pesto recipe.

Carrot Top Pesto Recipe

When those beautiful carrots with green tops are plentiful, it's time to make Carrot Top Pesto!

Farmers markets are overflowing with summer produce and that makes me so happy. Carrots with their greens still attached are readily available at farmers markets and lately I have been seeing them in the produce sections of all of the grocery stores near me too.

And if you’re lucky enough to have your own vegetable garden, you can harvest them in your own backyard!

A twist on a traditional pesto recipe, carrot greens pesto takes homemade pesto to an all new level of deliciousness and is an easy recipe too!

Our pesto recipe without pine nuts is bursting with the flavors of fresh carrots greens, the goodness of extra virgin olive oil, Parmesan cheese for texture and saltiness, lemon juice for a bright note and the unexpected flavor of toasted pistachios!

Another carrot greens recipe you are sure to love is our roasted carrots with tops. Be sure to check it out, you'll be happy you did!

Learn all about pesto, what does pesto taste like, how to make it, store it and even freeze it, along with lots more pesto recipes!

What do I put pesto on?

I love that pesto is so versatile. Did you know that it can be used in so many ways? Check out these serving suggestions for pesto:

• Toss with hot pasta
• Toss with vegetables
• Toss in a pasta salad
• Toss in a potato salad
• Add to salad dressing
• Add to dips
• Use as a dipping sauce
• Spread on a sandwich or toast
• Dollop on baked potatoes
• Stir into soup
• Use as a pizza sauce
• Top cooked chicken, beef, pork or seafood
• Stir into scrambled eggs
• Stir into mayonnaise, sour cream or Greek yogurt

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Swirls of Flavor Recipe Tips

• An immersion blender also works well when blending the ingredients together

Substitutions

• Substitute your favorite nut for the pistachios
• Substitute fresh parsley for some of the carrot greens
• Substitute fresh basil for some of the carrot greens

What to serve with pesto

• Toss pesto with hot pasta
• Serve over cooked chicken, fish or beef
• Drizzle pesto over hot cooked vegetables
• Toss in a pasta salad or potato salad 
• Serve as a dipping sauce

Carrot Top FAQ’s

Are the tops of carrots edible?

The leafy green tops of carrots are edible. These green tops can be eaten raw in salads and pesto and are also delicious when sautéed in olive oil and garlic and added to soups..

How do you store carrot greens?

When you have carrots with their green tops attached it is best to remove the tops and store them separate from the vegetable.

The tops are delicate and don’t last as long as the vegetable part of the carrot.

Wrap carrot greens in a damp paper towel and you can store them in a plastic food storage bag in the refrigerator for about a day.

Are carrot tops healthy?

The leafy greens of a carrot are not only edible but are also very nutritious.

Carrot greens are:

• Rich in protein
• Rich in minerals
• A good source of potassium
• A good source of calcium

Carrot tops also contain:

• Vitamin C
• Fiber
• Chlorophyll

Pesto FAQ’s

How do you store pesto?

You can store pesto in the refrigerator. To store homemade pesto in the refrigerator:

• Place pesto in a jar or airtight container
• Cover the top of the pesto with oil, preferably olive oil
• Seal jar or container with a cover.
• Refrigerate for up to one week

You can store homemade pesto in the freezer. To store homemade pesto in the freezer:

• Spoon pesto into an ice cube tray
• Freeze until solid, about 3-4 hours
• Pop pesto cubes out of ice cube tray
• Store in a freezer storage bag
• Pesto cubes can be frozen for up to 6 months

How long does homemade pesto last?

Homemade pesto will last about one week in the refrigerator and up to 6 months in the freezer.

Ingredients for carrots tops pesto recipe

• extra virgin olive oil
• carrot top greens
• Parmesan cheese
• pistachios
• garlic
• lemon juice
• kosher salt

Easy Pesto Recipes

I love making pestos with different, and sometimes unexpected, greens. Be sure to give these homemade pestos a try!

Fresh Mint Spring Pea Pesto is bursting with springtime flavors. Fresh peas and mint put a new spin on the traditional pesto!

Kale, the trendy super food, combined with toasted almonds, the healthy nut, make for a fabulously delicious and amazingly healthy Kale Pesto! Toss it with your favorite pasta for Meatless Monday, top chicken or fish, serve with vegetables……the possibilities are endless!

And don't forget the traditional pesto made with fresh basil leaves! Basil Pesto is that go-to fresh pesto recipe you can always fall back on when you want a tried and true pesto flavor. I did change this up a bit and added toasted almonds as the nut and it makes a fabulously delicious Basil Pesto!

If you love pesto as much as I do then you have to try Pesto Florentine made with tender baby spinach leaves, almonds, garlic and a hint of fresh lemon.