Lighter Basil Pesto

Pasta Sauce - Side Dish

Basil pesto is one of my favorite foods, especially in the summer. Unfortunately pesto is very high in fat and calories, so I have been working to create a lower fat and calorie version. This pesto is creamy and delicious without the guilt! This recipe is also great with any type of stock or nuts that you have at home.

Brief

Prep 15 mins

Total: 15 mins

Servings: 8

Yield: 8 servings

Lighter Basil Pesto

Ingredients

2 cups fresh basil

2 cloves garlic

1 tablespoon pine nuts

¼ cup part-skim ricotta cheese

¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 teaspoons olive oil

salt and ground black pepper to taste

2 tablespoons vegetable broth

or as needed

Roasted Red Pepper Cream Sauce

Side Dish

Directions

Step 1

Chop basil garlic and pine nuts in a food processor. Add ricotta cheese to the basil mixture and process. Repeat with Parmesan cheese olive oil salt and black pepper. Add vegetable broth and process until sauce is smooth. Add more broth if pesto is too thick.

Nutritional Information

Lighter Basil Pesto

Servings Per Recipe:8

Calories: 42

% Daily Value *

Protein: 2.5g 5%

Carbohydrates: 1.3g

Dietary Fiber: 0.2g 1%

Sugars: 0.2g

Fat: 3.1g 5%

Saturated Fat: 1.1g 5%

Cholesterol: 4.6mg 2%

Vitamin A Iu: 611.1IU 12%

Niacin Equivalents: 0.6mg 5%

Vitamin C: 2.1mg 4%

Folate: 9mcg 2%

Calcium: 69.2mg 7%

Iron: 0.5mg 3%

Magnesium: 11.5mg 4%

Potassium: 53.2mg 2%

Sodium: 55.6mg 2%

Calories From Fat: 28.2

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

**Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-)Nutrition information is provided for reference only. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.