Avocado Peanuts Pesto, A Nutty, Creamy Pesto Twist

Elevate your meals with this Avocado Peanuts Pesto, a deliciously creamy and nutty twist on the traditional pesto. The avocado brings smoothness and richness, while the peanuts add an unexpected crunch and depth of flavor. Whether you toss it with pasta, spread it on sandwiches, or drizzle over roasted veggies, this pesto will quickly become a new favorite. Happy New Month Lovelies! It's August! We survived the beginning of the second half of the year and here we find ourselves in another new month. I know I haven't been posting a lot but I promise this new month brings with it new delicious recipes that you will enjoy. So I was racking my brain trying to find a bit of inspiration for this new month and I thought why not make it a theme month! So the idea was born to create recipes for a whole month using the same ingredient to cone up with different dishes. The first thing that came to mind were Avocados.

I love this fruit and I would put it on any food from bread, to rice, to eggs to even salads. Avocados are so versatile, who knew you could make so much with such a humble fruit? So my theme for this month is #AvocadoAugust! So excited for what I have in store for you guys! I'll be posting every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Yeah I know, such a huge commitment but letting you guys know will somehow make you to be my responsibility partners . And also I want you guys to know which days to look forward to for new recipes. So to start us off on this #AvodacoAugust month is Pesto! You guessed it, Avocado Pesto. I had never made Pesto before so I am excited to share with you my recipe that I used peanuts instead of the traditional cashew nuts. You can roast your own Peanuts or buy the ready roasted ones. If you're allergic to peanuts you can totally leave them out, the avocado is rich enough on its own. What ingredients have you guys added to your pesto to make it that much more delicious? Looking forward to sharing the best that is Avocado recipes. Cheers to the new month and cheers to good food made real good!

INGREDIENTS

2 Avocados
1 Garlic clove
100g Roasted Peanuts
2 Bunches Cilantro
1 Lemon zest and juice
1 Teaspoon Chilli Flakes
4 Tablespoons Olive oil
Pinch salt

METHOD

Chop the avocados and pour into a food processor or high powered blender

Add in the chopped cilantro

Add zest of lemon and garlic

Add roasted peanuts

Pour in the lemon juice

Sprinkle the chilli flakes and salt

While blending gradually add in the olive oil slowly until incorporated

I loved my pesto a bit chunky but you can blend to your desired consistency

How smooth rich and delicious does that pesto look? You can literally down it just as is!

AVOCADO PEANUTS PESTO

Recipe by Mulunga Alukwe

Prep time: 05 Minutes
Cook time: 05 Minutes
Total time: 10 Minutes
Yield: 3 Servings
Ingredients

• 2 Avocados
• 1 Garlic Clove
• 100g Roasted Peanuts
• 2 Bunches Cilantro
• 1 Lemon Zest and Jiuce
• 1 Teaspoon Chili Flakes
• 4 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• Pinch Salt

Cooking Directions

1. Chop the avocados and pour into a food processor or high powered blender
2. Add in the chopped cilantro. Add zest of lemon and garlic. Add roasted peanuts. Pour in the lemon juice. Sprinkle the chili flakes and salt. Blend
3. While blending gradually add in the olive oil slowly until incorporated
4. Blend to your desired consistency, chunky or smooth

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Avocado Peanuts Pesto

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What does Avocado Peanuts Pesto taste like?
It has a creamy texture from the avocado and a deep, nutty flavor from roasted peanuts. It's richer and slightly earthier than classic basil pesto, with a natural smoothness that makes it versatile.

Q2: Can I use raw peanuts?
You can, but roasted peanuts offer a more robust flavor. Unsalted roasted peanuts work best to control seasoning. For extra depth, lightly toast the peanuts before blending.

Q3: Does it oxidize like guacamole?
Yes, because of the avocado. Add a bit of lemon or lime juice to slow browning. Store in an airtight container with plastic wrap pressed against the surface.

Q4: Can I freeze it?
Yes. Freeze in small airtight containers or ice cube trays. Thaw in the fridge and stir well before using.

Q5: What can I use it for?
Spread it on toast or sandwiches, toss with pasta, serve as a dip for veggies, or drizzle over grilled meats and roasted vegetables.

Q6: Is cheese needed in this pesto?
No, it's delicious without cheese and remains vegan. You can add nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor, or Parmesan if not keeping it dairy-free.

🧾 Nutrition Card (Per 2 Tbsp Serving)

Nutrient	Amount	Notes
Calories	~160 kcal	High energy from healthy fats
Total Fat	15 g	Avocado and peanuts contribute mostly unsaturated fats
Saturated Fat	2 g	Minimal; varies with oil type used
Carbohydrates	5 g	Naturally low-carb
Sugars	1 g	No added sugars
Protein	4 g	From peanuts and avocado
Fiber	3 g	Good source of dietary fiber
Sodium	100 mg	Adjust with salt or omit for low-sodium diets

Dietary Information

Category	Suitable?	Notes
Vegetarian	✅ Yes	No animal-derived ingredients
Vegan	✅ Yes	Use lemon juice or nutritional yeast instead of cheese
Gluten-Free	✅ Yes	Naturally free of gluten
Dairy-Free	✅ Yes	No milk-based ingredients
Low-Carb/Keto	✅ Yes	Healthy fats, low carbs
Paleo	✅ Yes	Ensure no added processed oils or sugars
Whole30	✅ Yes	Use compliant oil and peanuts (or sub with cashews if avoiding legumes)
Contains Nuts	⚠️ Yes	Contains peanuts; not suitable for nut allergies

📝 Notes:

• Substitute peanuts with other nuts (cashews, almonds) for variation.
• For thinner pesto, add more olive oil or a splash of water.
• Add fresh herbs like basil, parsley, or cilantro to enhance the flavor.
• Store in a glass jar with a layer of oil on top to prolong freshness.
• Pairs especially well with zucchini noodles or roasted sweet potatoes.

Please note that these values are estimates and can vary based on specific ingredients and portion sizes used. For precise nutritional information, consider using a nutrition calculator with exact ingredient measurements.