This healthy broccoli pesto is made with a helping of broccoli and a good dose of red pepper flakes. It is delicious atop pizza and other breads or stirred into rice or pasta.
While the typical pesto recipes have either nuts or seeds (and no broccoli), this ‘pesto’, if I can still call it that, breaks the rules!
I feel I am getting all of the broccoli benefits here, as it is just lightly steamed and blended. Cruciferous veggies are important, healthy body or not. They kick out those bad estrogens that can be accumulated from plastics or pretty much just breathing.
Some pesto recipes, I feel, really overdo the oil, and that can be all I taste. This recipe lets the broccoli and the basil shine and is a bit heartier.
You could actually almost ‘dollop’ this, though it does spread.
I like to top these Coconut Flour Flatbreads with this and a couple of chopped tomatoes.
Add an egg on top or even some shredded chicken, and I’ve got myself a decent little lunch!
If you’re into broccoli, try my 10-Minute Broccoli or this Creamy Lemon Broccoli Soup.
Spicy Broccoli Pesto
Ingredients
- 6 ounces broccoli florets
- 1 large garlic clove
- 5 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 Tbsp water
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- ¼ cup fresh basil
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp grated parmesan
Instructions
- Steam the broccoli for about eight minutes, until bright green and fork tender.
- Process or blend the broccoli with the remaining ingredients, except for the parmesan.
- Stir in the parmesan at the end, adding extra salt, if desired.
- Use as desired!
Notes
Nutrition
I’ve never had broccoli pesto–it sounds great!
This is such a great idea! And no nuts or seeds – I love it! Thank you for sharing, Lauren! And I really wish you, and pray, that next year (or maybe by the end of this year) you feel much much better 🙏🌹
Thank you so much, Alice. ♥
Easy and nutritious…great idea, Lauren!
Hope you feel better soon.
June
Thank you, June!