This bright Pistachio Mint Pesto is a unique twist on the classic to use up all of that abundant summer mint! It’s made with pistachio, mint and dill and is so bright and refreshing. It’s perfect for grilled meat or veggies and comes together quickly to add a nice punch of flavor to any dish!

Fresh Mint Pesto Recipe

A well made pesto is like a flavor bomb. Adding this Mint Pesto to any dish will brighten it and elevate the flavor! This nuanced pesto is made with fresh mint leaves, dill, green onions, pistachios and lemon! The truth is you can make pesto out of just about anything, and while most people think of pesto with basil, this mint pesto is just as delicious. You can pair it with nearly anything, but it’s great with grilled meats, veggies, chicken and as a spread on a cheese board.

Ingredients for Pistachio Mint Pesto

• Pistachios 
• Fresh Mint Leaves
• Dill sprigs
• Green Onions
• Olive Oil
• Lemon Juice
• Lemon Zest
• Salt and Pepper

How to Wash Fresh Mint

Mint can often be very gritty and dirty. To properly wash mint you should:

1. Pick all the mint leaves off the stem
2. Fill a big bowl with cool water
3. Submerge the mint leaves and swoosh them around.
4. Let them sit for a minute so that the dirt drops to the bottom.
5. Pick up the mint leaves as gently as possible, so as to not disturb the dirt, and place in a colander.
6. Empty out the water, rinse the bowl and repeat the process until no dirt is left behind in the bowl.
7. If desired you can run the mint leaves in a salad spinner to dry them off.

How to Prevent Pesto from Turning Brown

Pesto turns brown when the fresh herbs oxidize by coming into prolonged contact with oxygen. It isn’t harmful to eat brown pesto, but it can have an off taste and it looks unpleasant. To prevent browning you can float some olive oil over the top of pesto in the container. Make sure to cover the pesto entirely. This creates an airtight seal and will prevent the pesto from turning brown immediately.

Ways to Use Pistachio Mint Pesto

This bright pesto would be great with so many dishes! It is great with chicken, turkey or even pork. This would be a nice addition with lamb in springtime as well! You can use pesto in pasta dishes, rice dishes, in a salad, as a dip or spread and served over a grilled meat or veggies.

Check out these recipes that use pesto:

• Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad
• Sheet Pan Salmon with Sage Pesto and Root Vegetables
• Creamy Pesto Chicken “Pasta”
• Crock-Pot Pesto Chicken Salad

If you like this mint recipe, check out these others:

• Fresh Mint Tea
• Mint Simple Syrup
• Strawberry Lemonade with Mint

Pistachio Mint Pesto

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Prep Time 00:05 Total Time 00:05 Yields 1-1/2 cups

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Ingredients

• 1/4 cup whole raw pistachios 
• 2 cups packed mint leaves, washed well
• ½ cup packed dill
• 2 green onions, chopped
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• Big pinch salt
• Pinch of ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• Hot water, if needed

Directions

1. Add all of the ingredients except the olive oil to a food processor or a high speed blender. Pulse until finely chopped.
2. With the motor running, drizzle in the olive oil. If needed you can add in a tablespoon of hot water as needed to make a smooth pesto. Taste and adjust seasoning.
3. Use immediately or store for up to 1 week in a tightly sealed container.

Recipe Notes

1. If storing for more than a day, to prevent browning float some olive oil over the top of the pesto to create an airtight seal.

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