Creamy Low Fat Pesto

Elevate your pasta, sandwiches, or roasted veggies with this Creamy Low Fat Pesto, a guilt-free twist on the classic Italian favorite! Packed with the vibrant flavors of fresh basil, garlic, and a hint of zesty lemon, this recipe swaps traditional heavy ingredients for plain non-fat Greek yogurt, creating a luscious, creamy texture without the extra calories. Grated Parmesan cheese and toasted pine nuts (or walnuts) provide a rich, nutty depth, while a touch of extra-virgin olive oil ensures a smooth and velvety finish. Ready in just 10 minutes, this quick and wholesome pesto is as versatile as it is delicious. Perfect for health-conscious foodies looking for a low-fat sauce that doesn’t skimp on flavor, it’s an easy make-ahead option that can be refrigerated for up to a week.

Nutriscore Rating: 65/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:0 mins

Total Time:10 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 cups Fresh basil leaves
• 0.5 cups Plain non-fat Greek yogurt
• 0.25 cups Parmesan cheese, grated
• 2 Garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons Pine nuts or walnuts, toasted
• 2 tablespoons Extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon Lemon juice, freshly squeezed
• 0.25 teaspoons Salt
• 0.25 teaspoons Black pepper, freshly ground
• 2 tablespoons Water (optional, for thinning)

Directions

Step 1

Add the basil leaves, grated Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, and toasted pine nuts (or walnuts) to a food processor or high-powered blender.

Step 2

Pulse several times until the ingredients are roughly chopped.

Step 3

Add the plain non-fat Greek yogurt, extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper to the food processor.

Step 4

Blend the mixture until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides as needed to ensure everything is evenly combined.

Step 5

If the pesto is too thick, add water one tablespoon at a time and blend until the desired consistency is reached.

Step 6

Taste the pesto and adjust seasoning if necessary by adding more salt, pepper, or lemon juice to suit your preferences.

Step 7

Transfer the creamy low-fat pesto to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to one week, or serve immediately over your favorite dishes.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(269.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	539.4

Total Fat 44.9g	0%
Saturated Fat 8.6g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat g
Cholesterol 24mg	0%
Sodium 980.3mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 11.7g	0%
Dietary Fiber 2.4g	0%
Total Sugars 5.8g
Protein 25.7g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 446.2mg	0%
Iron 2.5mg	0%
Potassium 467.7mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 73.0%

Protein: 18.6%

Carbs: 8.5%