Don’t throw away your radish greens! You can use the tops to make a delicious pesto to put over pasta, veggies or on sandwiches.
I have to admit, when it comes to a sauce for pasta, I’m more of a tomato-based girl. However, I’ve been making this radish greens pesto this year with the bounty of radishes we get from our local CSA share and I’m newly pesto OBSESSED.
This recipe is a great way to use up the leafy tops of your radish harvest or the radish greens. I’ve seen similar things done with carrot tops or greens, too. If you’re anything like us, you may be trying to reduce your food waste and this is a fantastic way to do so!
But, you might be wondering…
What is pesto made of?
Pesto is a sauce traditionally made by grinding together basil, pine nuts, parmesan cheese, and olive oil. Traditional flavorings also include garlic and lemon juice.
Why is radish green pesto the BEST?!
Pesto is a really flexible sauce. If you don’t like or can’t have pine nuts, you can use cashews or walnuts. And, instead of basil, or along with basil you can use other greens like kale or radish greens.
Radish green pesto is absolutely my favorite variety because it’s a little bit zippy & zesty. Radishes have a bit of a bite to them when you eat them raw, and that subtle flavor transitions to their greens which makes such a wonderful addition to pesto.
What’s in this non-basil pesto?
Making pesto couldn’t be easier if you have a food processor or even higher quality blender. All you need to do is add all of the ingredients into your food processor or blender and swirl away. You can add a bit of water if you like a thinner pesto and grind to your liking.
My one recommendation is to make sure you’re washing the radish greens very well if they’re fresh from the garden, tho. They can be a bit dirty!
How do you serve pesto?
I like to serve pesto over pasta or in sandwiches as a spread. You can also serve it as a dip, and it’s lovely over roasted veggies to provide some interest, too!
To store it, it can be in a sealed container in the fridge for about a week or so. Alternatively, if you have a lot on your hands, it’s really good to freeze it in ice cube molds and then store the frozen cubes in a zip-top bag. The frozen cubes will keep for about 6 months.
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PrintRadish Greens Pesto | How to Use Radish Tops
Don’t throw away your radish greens! You can use the tops to make a delicious pesto to put over pasta, veggies or on sandwiches
- Yield: 4-6 1x
Ingredients
- radish greens from 1 bunch of radishes (about 3-4 cups)
- optional – 1/2 cup basil leaves
- 1/3 cup toasted pine nuts*
- 3–4 garlic cloves
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/2 tsp. fresh, black pepper
- 1/4 tsp. salt, or to taste
- 1–2 Tbsp. water – or to preference
Instructions
- After you remove the radishes from the greens be sure to wash them WELL in very cold water. Then, gently blot dry with a towel and lay them to dry while you build the pesto.
- Add the greens, basil (if using), pine nuts, garlic, parmesan, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper into a food processor or high-powered blender.
- Blend, scraping down the sides often. Add water to get to your desired consistency and taste to check the seasoning levels.
- Use the pesto over pasta, vegetables, as a dip, over salad greens or as a spread! Enjoy!
Notes
- Walnuts and cashews are also great in pesto!
Smoker Yard says
Hey Allie!
I totally agree with you and your sentiment about the reddish greens “Radish green pesto is absolutely my favorite variety because it’s a little bit zippy & zesty.”
They are mine favourite too!
You said that we must wash the reddish with cold water. Can we store it to the fridge for some time to make it a little cooler?
You are doing a great job!
Miss AK says
Thanks so much for the kind words! You can refrigerate them for a bit after washing, however I would use them within a day or less so they don’t wilt! 🙂
Jame Son says
These are the best green pesto.
Thanks for sharing it.
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Brenda Rothrock says
Absolutely delicious! It was so easy to make I don’t think I’ll ever do the packaged version again…thanks! Really I like your blog.
Brenda Rothrock says
Thank you so much for sharing the tips. I love cooking. Your cooking is Absolutely delicious. I think these tips will help me a lot. Thanks for sharing.
Brenda Rothrock says
What a simple way to make it. I have all the ingredients and am ready to go. Thank you Miss AK says.