Kalamata Olive Pesto

Elevate your culinary repertoire with this bold and savory Kalamata Olive Pesto recipe—a Mediterranean-inspired twist on a classic sauce. Bursting with briny Kalamata olives, fresh basil, nutty Parmesan, and toasted pine nuts, this vibrant pesto comes together in just 10 minutes with no cooking required. The addition of garlic, fresh lemon juice, and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil perfectly balances the rich, tangy, and herbaceous flavors. Perfect as a spread for crusty bread, a luscious sauce for pasta, or a topping for grilled vegetables, this versatile olive pesto is as easy to make as it is delicious. Plus, it can be made ahead and stored for up to a week, making it a go-to for quick and flavorful meals.

Nutriscore Rating: 46/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:0 mins

Total Time:10 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1 cup Kalamata olives, pitted
• 1 cup Fresh basil leaves
• 0.5 cup Grated Parmesan cheese
• 0.25 cup Pine nuts
• 2 Garlic cloves, peeled
• 0.5 cup Extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon Fresh lemon juice
• 0.25 teaspoon Salt
• 0.25 teaspoon Ground black pepper

Directions

Step 1

In a dry skillet over medium heat, toast the pine nuts for 2-3 minutes or until golden and fragrant. Be sure to stir frequently to prevent burning. Once toasted, set aside to cool.

Step 2

In a food processor, combine the Kalamata olives, fresh basil leaves, grated Parmesan cheese, toasted pine nuts, and garlic cloves.

Step 3

Pulse the ingredients a few times to break them down into a coarse mixture.

Step 4

While the food processor is running, slowly drizzle in the extra-virgin olive oil until the mixture reaches your desired consistency. For a thicker pesto, use less oil; for a thinner, more sauce-like consistency, use slightly more.

Step 5

Add the fresh lemon juice, salt, and ground black pepper to the mixture, then pulse a few more times to fully incorporate the flavors.

Step 6

Taste and adjust seasoning if needed, adding more salt, pepper, or lemon juice to balance the flavors.

Step 7

Transfer the finished Kalamata Olive Pesto to a serving bowl or an airtight container for storage. Use immediately, or refrigerate for up to one week.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(467.7g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1770.1

Total Fat 185.8g	0%
Saturated Fat 30.8g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 11.5g
Cholesterol 40mg	0%
Sodium 5049.3mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 24.2g	0%
Dietary Fiber 10.1g	0%
Total Sugars 1.6g
Protein 24.9g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 641.6mg	0%
Iron 7.6mg	0%
Potassium 469.4mg	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: 89.5%

Protein: 5.3%

Carbs: 5.2%