Low Sodium Homemade Pesto

If you love the classic taste of pesto but are watching your sodium intake, this low sodium homemade pesto is the perfect solution! A fresh, flavorful combination of garlic, nuts, and herbs, this easy recipe delivers all the bold flavors you love without the extra salt. Whether you’re tossing it with pasta, spreading it on sandwiches, or using it as a marinade, this pesto will add a bright, Mediterranean flair to any dish.

I love pesto as a dip, spread or ingredient, it’s just so versatile. It gives almost anything an instant Mediterranean taste. But the store brand pesto is loaded with sodium, which could eat up to 33% of a daily limit of 1500 mg. So I tried making my own version of low-sodium homemade pesto, and surprise, the salt wasn’t missed.

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You’ll love low sodium homemade pesto

Of course with the basil and garlic being such a strong flavor, you won’t even miss it. Swiss cheese is among the lowest sodium cheeses at 55mg per ounce. Any sodium comes from the cheese you choose to blend in. I also like mine with the addition of a little onion powder and cayenne pepper to give it a little boost.

Typical sodium amount per serving	560mg
Sodium per serving for this recipe	10mg
Calories per serving	283

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So throw out the salt and enjoy the “garlicky” nuttiness. It only takes a few minutes to prepare using a small food processor and requires only a few ingredients. Being homemade you can also control the consistency to either use as a dip or a pasta sauce. Now you can always have low-sodium homemade pesto on hand for the surprise snack attack.

Ingredients and preparation

Begin by removing the basil leaves from the stems and lightly crush. This releases the aromatics in the leaves. Cut the ends off the garlic and rub off any loose skin. Next, take the garlic and pine nuts and lightly toast them in a dry skillet over medium-high heat. Toasting the garlic reduces its pungency and provides a sweeter taste. The oil in the nuts will warm and enhance the nutty taste. Toast until you see the nuts are a light brown and the garlic has little brown spots, stirring frequently. Be careful because they can overcook quickly. About five to seven minutes should do it.

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Start mixing the basil, garlic, cheese and pine nuts in the blender until the texture is as you prefer, slightly crunchy or smooth. Add the extra virgin olive oil towards the end. Extra virgin olive oil contains phenols. When broken up by vigorous emulsification it may become bitter. The alternatives are to shorten the blending time, stirring by hand or use pure olive oil. Pure olive oil has been refined with most of the phenols being removed. I personally have not noticed a difference. But be aware this if you notice a bitter taste. Mix the oil until the desired consistency is reached. You can always stir in more oil later.

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A Basil alternative (or to “bulk” it up) include any leafy greens such as cilantro, parsley, spinach or kale. Although you should keep 50% of the basil for original taste.

Serving Suggestions

Spread your low-sodium homemade pesto on a sandwich in place of mayonnaise or mustard. Or you can use it as dip with my low sodium flatbread or low sodium pita chips. Or even thinned with a bit of hot pasta water and tossed for a pasta sauce. Pesto can also add flavor to your chicken and fish. Add to rice and vegetables for an herbed flavor or on a potato instead of butter. Slather on a roasted tomato steak, the possibilities are endless.

Storage and Freezing Tips

If you have leftover pesto, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. For longer storage, freeze it in ice cube trays and transfer the cubes to a freezer bag once frozen. This way, you can pop out a cube or two whenever you need some pesto for a quick meal!

Please let me know how this Low Sodium Homemade Pesto turns out for you in the comments and a rating! I’m always eager for your feedback and hope my recipes turn out amazing for you. You can also follow me on Facebook and Pinterest to hear about new recipes.