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Artichoke Lemon Pesto
4.3 from 68 votes

Artichoke Lemon Pesto

Artichoke Lemon Pesto blends drained artichoke hearts with garlic, Asiago cheese, lemon zest, and fresh lemon juice. The texture is slightly coarse due to the careful pulsing in a food processor, ensuring it’s not a smooth paste but still holds some chunks. Olive oil adds richness while salt and pepper season the mix. This pesto works well as a sauce for pasta, offering bright citrus notes balanced with savory cheese and garlic. It can be refrigerated for up to two weeks or frozen for longer storage.

Prep Time
10 mins
Total Time
10 mins
Servings: 16
Calories: 49 kcal
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Mediterranean

Ingredients

  • 15 ounce artichoke hearts drained, canned
  • 2 garlic small cloves, peeled and minced
  • lemon zest of 1
  • 2 Tbsp lemon juice fresh, or more to taste
  • 1/2 cup Asiago cheese finely grated
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil or more to taste
  • salt fresh cracked
  • black pepper fresh cracked

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Rinse and drain your artichokes. If they are whole, cut them in half first, then put into the food processor.
  2. Add the garlic, lemon zest and juice, cheese, oil, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
  3. Pulse the machine about 20-25 times to break everything down but still retain some texture. Scrape down the sides of the bowl if necessary. Note: You can run the machine for a few seconds if you want your pesto a little smoother, but be sure to retain some texture, you don't want a paste.
  4. Taste the pesto at this point and adjust as you like. I added a little more lemon juice, cheese, oil, and salt and pepper.
  5. Spoon the sauce into a jar and refrigerate until needed. The sauce will keep up to 2 weeks in the fridge, or you can freeze for longer storage, just put it in an airtight plastic container or in a zip lock freezer bag.
To serve with pasta
  1. Cook your pasta, drain and return to the pan.  Reserve a cup of the cooking liquid.
  2. Spoon dollops of pesto onto the pasta and toss along with some grated cheese.  Add in some of the cooking liquid to help distribute the pesto and make a light sauce.
  3. Season with salt and pepper.
  4. Serve with extra cheese.

Nutrition Information

Serving 2Tbsp Calories 49kcal (2%) Carbohydrates 1g (0%) Protein 1g (2%) Fat 4g (6%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Cholesterol 2mg (1%) Sodium 148mg (6%) Potassium 6mg (0%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 1g (2%) Vitamin A 25IU (1%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 38mg (4%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 16 Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 49

% Daily Value*

Serving 2Tbsp
Calories 49kcal 2%
Carbohydrates 1g 0%
Protein 1g 2%
Fat 4g 6%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 2mg 1%
Sodium 148mg 6%
Potassium 6mg 0%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 1g 2%
Vitamin A 25IU 1%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 38mg 4%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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