Heart-Healthy Roasted Red Pepper Pesto

Brighten your meals with the irresistible flavors of Heart-Healthy Roasted Red Pepper Pesto, a nutritious twist on a classic sauce. This vibrant recipe features roasted red bell peppers for a natural sweetness, toasted walnuts for a nutty depth, and fresh basil leaves for a herbaceous punch—all blended with extra virgin olive oil and zesty lemon juice for a silky, heart-smart finish. Crafted in under an hour, this pesto is packed with wholesome ingredients, omitting heavy salts and dairy to keep it light yet decadent. Perfect as a spread, dip, or sauce for pasta, it’s a versatile and guilt-free way to add bold color and flavor to any dish.

Nutriscore Rating: 70/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:25 mins

Total Time:45 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 4 large Red bell peppers
• 1 cup Walnuts
• 3 large Garlic cloves
• 2 cups Fresh basil leaves
• 2 tablespoons Lemon juice
• 1 cup Extra virgin olive oil
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
• 0.25 teaspoon Salt (optional)

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).

Step 2

Place the red bell peppers on a baking sheet and roast for 20-25 minutes, turning occasionally, until the skin is charred and blistered.

Step 3

Remove the peppers from the oven and transfer them to a bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and let them cool for about 10 minutes.

Step 4

Once cooled, peel the skin off the peppers and remove the seeds and stems.

Step 5

In a dry skillet over medium heat, toast the walnuts for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until they are lightly browned and aromatic. Allow them to cool slightly.

Step 6

Place the peeled red peppers, toasted walnuts, garlic cloves, basil leaves, lemon juice, and black pepper into a food processor.

Step 7

Pulse a few times to chop the ingredients and then gradually add the extra virgin olive oil in a steady stream while continuing to blend.

Step 8

Blend the mixture until smooth, scraping down the sides if necessary.

Step 9

Taste and adjust the seasoning. If desired, add salt to taste, keeping in mind heart-healthy restrictions on adding too much salt.

Step 10

Transfer the pesto to a jar or airtight container and refrigerate. It can be stored in the fridge for up to one week.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1186.6g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2985.4

Total Fat 304.5g	0%
Saturated Fat 40.0g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 56.6g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 581.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 70.3g	0%
Dietary Fiber 25.9g	0%
Total Sugars 30.2g
Protein 28.4g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 249.4mg	0%
Iron 8.6mg	0%
Potassium 2343.9mg	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: 87.4%

Protein: 3.6%

Carbs: 9.0%