I make a variation of this pesto every. single. week. If for some reason I don’t make it, I feel lost. A week without pesto??? The struggle is real. Seriously, having a jar of this herby, nutrient dense pesto on hand gives your meals a major boost throughout the week. It has the ability to transform even the most humdrum salads, sandwiches or eggs into delicious masterpieces. As the jar nears completion, I find myself getting stingy, even protective over it. This stuff is pure, green gold!
I started my weekly pesto ritual around the time Rose began eating solid food as a way to incorporate leafy greens into her diet. It is no coincidence that we have been incorporating a lot more spreads, dips and sauces into our meals since Rose came on the scene. These blended creations have becomes staples in our weekly meal prep. This pesto is incredibly nutrient dense – packed with greens, healthy fats and protein – and requires no teeth to eat, making it a perfect food for babies and toddlers.
This pesto is also nut-free, so adults or kids with nut allergies can get in on the pesto fun, too. Note: exercise caution when introducing nuts and seeds to babies. We introduced all potential allergens early and often, an approach more and more pediatricians are recommending these days (see this article from the American Academy of Pediatrics). However, always consult your own doctor and use common sense when introducing new foods. Back to the pesto. This one relies on pumpkin seeds and hemp seeds instead of nuts. Both are nutrition powerhouses. The pumpkin seeds are a good source of zinc, manganese, copper and protein. The hemp seeds are a good source of omega-3 and omega-6 fats, magnesium and fiber, and they are a complete protein.
- Spread on toast and topped with an egg
- Spread on sandwiches
- Mixed into salad dressing
- Over pasta, thinned with a little pasta water or cashew cream
- Spooned over a bowl of soup
- A heaping scoop over your salad or grain bowl
- By the spoonful – Rose’s favorite way to eat it
Print
Pin
[…] green smoothie – recipe below Pestos – see my go-to pesto recipe here Quesadillas – finely chopped, lightly sautéed and incorporated into the quesadilla filling […]