Best 7 Light Pesto Sauce Recipes

CREAMY PESTO SAUCE

Steps:

• Boil the pasta according to package instructions.
• While the pasta cooks, melt the butter over medium heat in a large pan. Add the cream and whisk the two together.
• Add the pesto and lemon zest and whisk to combine. Cook the sauce (don't let it boil) for a couple of minutes before adding the Parmesan cheese and parsley. Stir until the cheese melts into the sauce.
• Add the cooked pasta and toss to coat it in the sauce. Squeeze the lemon juice over the top, toss again, and serve.

LIGHTER BASIL PESTO

Steps:

• Chop basil, garlic, and pine nuts in a food processor. Add ricotta cheese to the basil mixture and process. Repeat with Parmesan cheese, olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Add vegetable broth and process until sauce is smooth. Add more broth if pesto is too thick.

LIGHT LEMON PESTO PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti at a boil until cooked through but firm to the bite, about 12 minutes; drain. Transfer spaghetti to a large bowl.
• Put cubed Romano cheese in the bowl of a food processor; process until coarsely grated, about 30 seconds. Put garlic into the food processor and process until the cheese and garlic are combined. Add spinach, basil, walnuts, lemon juice, lemon zest, and salt; process until the mixture comes together into a thick paste. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula.
• With food processor running, drizzle olive oil into the mixture. Continue processing until the oil is integrated smoothly.
• Pour sauce over spaghetti and toss to coat.

LIGHT PESTO SAUCE

Steps:

• In food processor, combine romano cheese and garlic; cover and process for 30 seconds.
• Add the basil, nuts, salt and pepper; cover and process until combined, about 15 seconds.
• While processing, add the lemon juice, process about 15 seconds longer or untl combined.
• Toss with pasta or serve as compliment to beef, chicken or seafood.

BASIC PESTO SAUCE

Steps:

• Pulse pine nuts in a food processor until they're completely broken down. Stop to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula from time to time. Add olive oil and garlic and pulse until garlic is finely chopped.
• Chop basil very roughly - just run a knife through it once or twice to cut most of the leaves into halves or thirds - then add to food processor. Pulse, stopping every 15 seconds to push the leaves down with a rubber spatula, until basil is entirely worked into the oil. Pulse for another few seconds, and then stop to prevent turning the basil brown.
• Pour pesto base into a bowl and add grated cheese and salt. Stir to combine, then taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Leave the sauce thick to toss with cooked pasta and a little pasta cooking water. To use the pesto as a garnish for grilled or roasted meats, fish and vegetables, thin it out with 2 to 3 more tablespoons olive oil until it's the consistency of a loose paste. To store leftovers, pour a little more olive oil over the pesto to cover. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to three days.

LIGHT PESTO SAUCE

Steps:

• Peel skin from garlic cloves, and chop into big chunks.
• Using a food processor, pulse basil, garlic, and nuts several times until finely chopped.
• Add cheese and ¼ cup of the olive oil, and pulse until blended.
• Pesto will be thick, so add more olive oil if desired for a looser consistency.

LIGHTER PESTO

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine basil, walnuts, Parmesan, garlic, lemon juice, and 3 tablespoons water; season with salt and pepper. Puree until a paste forms.
• With motor running, add oil in a thin stream. Process until very smooth, about 1 minute.