Bell Pepper Pesto with Purplish Basil

Use that jar of bell pepper to good use before it goes bad. Make bell pepper pesto using fresh basil and serve it as a sauce or spread. Can be refrigerated or frozen for future use.

I love those jar of bell pepper strips to put on sandwiches or in salads.

But, they go bad quickly!

How many times have I opened the jar and be met with disgusting site and smell!

So, what to do with a jar of bell peppers?

Turn them into an UNBELIEVABLE pesto recipe!

🍅 Handy Tip: Use bottled bell peppers in this recipe because they are convenient. Go with the strips or bell pepper pieces, but make sure you wash them thoroughly. This will remove the taste of the brining liquid.

Ingredients

Here is a quick look at the ingredients. It is to understand why these specific ingredients were chosen. To get the full recipe, go to the bottom of this post.

• Pine nuts – They add a nutty flavor and also give this recipe it’s good fats.
• Purple basil – Purple basil is packed with so many nutrients like Polyphenols, fiber and Vitamin E.
• Pink salt – It is a more natural form of salt and has 84 trace minerals in it.
• Extra virgin olive oil – It’s good fats help absorb nutrients in this recipe.
• Bell Pepper – They are a very good source of Vitamin C.

Instructions

1. Start by washing the bell pepper strips. I put it in a colander and run it under cold water.
2. In a food processor, add half of the basil and blend it up.
3. Now, add the remaining basil and the rest of the ingredients except bell peppers.
4. Blend it up until it’s creamy.
5. Finally, add the bell peppers and blend until it’s fully blended.

👩‍🍳 Substitution tip: If you don’t have pine nuts, you can use blanched almonds, cashews or walnuts. Make sure to grind them first.

Answering common questions

🌶 Spicy Tip: Add a little spice to this pesto by adding red pepper flakes or a spicy pepper in it.

Storing tips

Always use glass jars to store pesto because it will be refrigerated. This is the (Affiliate Link) one I like to use.

Make it and refrigerate immediately, if you are not using it. This will help the taste remain fresh.

Even if you are going to use it in a day or two, store it in glass jars to prevent the ingredients from reacting with the container.

To freeze them, place them in ice cube trays with covers like (Affiliate Link) this one from Amazon.

How to use pesto

• Use it as a sandwich spread or Pasta sauce.
• Make a caprese tart or puff pastry bites.
• Roast potatoes or foil packet veggies
• On Grilled corn or fruits
• Make this delicious pesto orzo salad.
• Flavor wild rice and roasted whole cauliflower.
• Put it into a hasselback potato recipe.

Have you tasted a giant tomato sandwich where pesto is used as a spread? It’s a must try!

A few more pesto recipe

I have a whole collection of the best pesto recipes that will knock your socks off! Try pesto recipes made with scallions, cilantro, and arugula.

What’s your favorite part of this bell pepper pesto recipe?

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Don’t be shy, chime in below in the comments. Let me hear your opinion on this recipe.

⭐️ If you tried and enjoyed Bell Pepper Pesto recipe, please rate it 5 stars! Share it on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram and even YouTube. ⭐️

Bell Pepper Pesto with Purple Basil

Rini

What to do with jar of bell peppers? Turn it into a simple pesto recipe that is easy to make.

5 from 7 votes

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Prep Time 2 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 7 minutes mins

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Italian

Servings 3 people

Calories 200 kcal

Equipment

• Food Processor

Ingredients

  

• 2 Tbsp pine nuts
• 2 cups purple basil lightly packed
• 1 tsp salt Adjust to taste
• 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 8 oz bell pepper strips ½ of a 16oz jar or 1 cup or roasted bell peppers

Instructions

 

• Roast the pine nuts stove top. Roast for about 1 minute to bring out the natural oils and flavors.
• In a food processor, blend half of the basil first
• Add the remaining basil, roasted pine nuts, salt and extra virgin olive oil
• Scrap down the sides of the processor
• Blend until it’s a pesto consistency
• Add the bell pepper strips and blend until pureed.

Video

Notes

*** CALORIES INFORMATION IS APPROXIMATE.  CONSULT A HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION.

 

• Pine nuts can be used sparingly on a keto diet.
• You can use the bell pepper strips or the big bell pepper pieces that come in a jar.
• Make sure you wash the jarred bell pepper because it comes with other flavors like vinegar, etc.
• This is a vegan pesto recipe, but you can always make it vegetarian by adding fresh Parmesan. You can also add a tsp of ground flax seed.
• Tranfer it to a glass jar after you have made it. Storing it in a glass jar will keep it fresh longer
• You can also freeze it and it will last for 6 months.
• If you don’t have pine nuts, you can use almonds or walnuts. Make sure to grind them first.
• I always like to blend half of the basil first. This way, I can be sure that it will be blended evenly. It’s not important step, but I like doing it that way.
• Sometimes, I will make it spicy by adding red pepper flakes or a spicy pepper in it.

Keyword bell pepper strips, how to make pesto, purple basil, What to do with a jar of bell pepper

A note about the purple basil

I grow my own basil in my garden because I love having it when I am need it and it’s more fun to grow it over buying it.

This time, I decided to try and grow purple basil. Sadly, they didn’t grow completely purple like they were supposed to. I think I grew them in the shade instead of direct sunlight.

However, what grew was this AMAZING shade of purple and green basil. They are so beautiful and I almost didn’t have the heart to harvest them.

And, they taste so delicious!

Regular basil (AKA Genovese basil) will also work in this recipe.