Budget-Friendly Pesto

5 from 3 votes

This Budget-Friendly Homemade Pesto uses sunflower seeds, basil, and spinach for a delicious and affordable twist on the classic.

Prep Time10

Total Time10

Course: Dip, Sauce

Cuisine: American, Italian

Total Cost: $5.36 recipe / $0.67 serving

Servings: servings (2 Tbsp each)

Calories: 175kcal

Author: Jennie Alley

Equipment

Food Processor

Ingredients

3 large garlic cloves minced, $0.24
¼ cup unsalted roasted sunflower seed kernels 33g, $0.38*
½ cup Parmesan cheese grated, (60g) $0.74
1 tsp salt $0.02
1½ cups fresh basil 40g, $1.99**
1½ cups fresh baby spinach $0.41**
1 Tbsp lemon juice $0.06
½ cup olive oil 4 oz., $1.52

Instructions

Gather all ingredients. Wash and dry basil and baby spinach leaves thoroughly.
In a food processor, add garlic, sunflower seeds, parmesan cheese, and salt, and pulse until chopped. Then, add basil and spinach leaves, continuing the process until roughly chopped.
Add lemon juice, and then while the food processor is running on low, add the olive oil in a steady stream until smooth. Now it's ready to enjoy however you please!

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Notes

*Salted roasted sunflower seed kernels may be used, just remember to either reduce or completely eliminate the additional salt in the recipe.

**If you have a huge bumper crop of basil that needs to be used up, feel free to use only basil and no spinach. Same great taste; however, the finished product may not be as vibrantly green.

**Please do not substitute dried or frozen basil and/or spinach for this recipe. Fresh is best!

Nutrition

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