This honey pesto with walnuts recipe is a bright and fresh sauce made with basil, honey, walnuts, garlic, and olive oil. It’s fantastic tossed with fresh pasta, spread on toast, or stirred into risotto!
A fantastic sweet & savory addition to any meal. This healthy no cook pesto sauce is ready in just 10 minutes in your blender or food processor!
This Honey Pesto Recipe Is
- Bright
- Herby
- Fresh
- Subtly Sweet
- Loaded with Flavor
- Versatile
- Hearty
- Vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free!
Savory Honey Recipes for Meal Prep
You can easily meal prep this walnut and honey pesto recipe by following the below recipe and dividing it into a few equal portions to enjoy throughout the week. I love having a healthy homemade meal ready in my fridge during the busy weekdays.
By meal prepping this recipe, you can cook once and have perfectly portioned meals ready to go. I rely heavily on meal prepping and created a whole section of the site to recipes you can meal prep, batch cook, or make ahead. Heat + eat, you’re all set!
Ingredients Savory and Sweet Pesto Sauce with Honey
I love shopping for fresh produce through Misfits Market – they sell groceries, healthy pantry staples, and fantastic food finds (even wine!) at a discounted price. Choose your favorite seasonal produce, save up to 40% off grocery store prices & save time by getting free delivery right to your door!
- Raw Honey: We use our own honey, straight out of the beehives for us! As beekeepers, we have plenty of raw honey so I try to use it in all my recipes instead of sugar. I’d recommend trying a local farmers market to find the best raw honey in your area. Or else, this raw organic honey online here is the next best thing.
- Walnuts: because I love adding heart-healthy and brain-healthy ingredients to my foods when I can. I stocked up a few bags of these walnuts which are super cheap and a great value for the quality.
- Fresh Basil
- Fresh Parsley
- Garlic: I use fresh garlic when I have it, and this great jarred organic garlic when I don’t have fresh. It’s actually super convenient to have pre-chopped garlic on hand for quick and easy meal prep.
- Red Chili Pepper Flakes: for a little heat! if you don’t like spice, you can absolutely skip them in this recipe.
- Lemon Juice – fresh if possible!
- Good Extra Virgin Olive Oil: I like to use this fruity olive oil which has a fantastic flavor and deep color- it’s inexpensive & I like to keep a few liters stocked up in my pantry. Olive oil has fantastic health properties too: it’s anti-inflammatory & can help fight heart disease.
- Salt & Pepper
Easy Weeknight Pesto with Honey!
This walnut and honey pesto recipe is what I call an Easy Weeknight Meal – which is on your table in about 30 minutes. These quick and simple recipes are perfect for those nights when you want a healthy homecooked meal but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen.
I have a whole section of The Herbeevore dedicated to Easy Weeknight Meals, that are great for the whole family. From soups and stews, to pastas and proteins – a healthy meal can be on your table in no time. Even faster than ordering takeout!
How Do I Make Pesto with Honey?
- Toast the walnuts over low heat in a sauce pan – the nuts should be fully toasted after about 3 to 4 minutes, so make sure to watch and stir with a wooden spoon so they don’t burn.
- In a food processor or blender, add basil, parsley, toasted walnuts, honey, garlic, pepper flakes, and lemon juice. Pulse a few times to break down the greens.
- Mix on low and pour in the olive oil until the pesto is a smooth consistency. Add salt and pepper, taste, and adjust seasonings as desired. Toss pesto with freshly cooked pasta, smash pesto with cooked chickpeas, or stir into risotto, enjoy!
Is There a Plant-Based Alternative to Honey?
Yes, you can substitute out the honey in this recipe for agave nectar or maple syrup. I prefer agave nectar, it’s my go-to kitchen sweetener because it’s absolutely delicious, and buying organic agave is inexpensive online (compared to other organic sweeteners). It also bakes well, so I like to add it to my baked goods.
More Savory Honey Recipes You’ll Love!
Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken Bites Recipe
Instant Pot Honey Garlic Noodles Recipe (Vegetarian)
Honey Mustard Coleslaw (Gluten Free, Vegetarian)
Raw Honey Cilantro Lime Sauce Recipe
Get the Same Ingredients For This Honey Pesto Recipe
As always, if you make this easy honey pesto recipe be sure to leave me a comment, rate this recipe, and tag me @theherbeevore on Instagram so I can feature you. I love seeing all your photos of my recipes!
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Honey Pesto with Walnuts
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup walnuts
- 1 tablespoon raw honey
- 2 cups basil
- 1 cup fresh parsley
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1/8 teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice about 1 lemon
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon Himalayan Sea Salt and Pepper to Taste
Instructions
- Toast the walnuts over low heat in a sauce pan - the nuts should be fully toasted after about 3 to 4 minutes, so make sure to watch and stir with a wooden spoon so they don't burn.
- In a food processor or blender, add basil, parsley, toasted walnuts, honey, garlic, pepper flakes, and lemon juice. Pulse a few times to break down the greens.
- Mix on low and pour in the olive oil until the pesto is a smooth consistency. Add salt and pepper, taste, and adjust seasonings as desired. Toss pesto with freshly cooked pasta, smash pesto with cooked chickpeas, or stir into risotto, mangia!
Notes
Save Money on Fresh Groceries & Pantry Staples!
I get all the fresh produce for my recipes from my garden and from Misfits Market – they sell organic produce at a discounted price, and it’s purchased direct from farmers to reduce food waste. We get Misfit boxes every other week and love picking out our favorite seasonal produce for delivery. You can save up to 40% off grocery store prices. If you think produce delivery is too expensive… think again, and give Misfits Market a try!Nutrition
Or tag me @theherbeevore in your photo on Instagram!
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Yummy and good to use in a variety of dishes
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