Name: Low-Calorie Pesto
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 8 Servings
Cuisine: American

Jule’s Menu Verified

January 21, 2026

This healthy pesto is a lighter, low-calorie twist on the classic Italian sauce, blending fresh basil and peppery arugula with sun-dried tomatoes, soaked cashews, a touch of olive oil, toasted pine nuts, and Parmesan for a creamy, flavorful spread. Perfect for tossing with pasta, spreading on sandwiches, or drizzling over roasted vegetables, it delivers all the rich, nutty, and herbaceous flavors of traditional pesto while keeping it nutritious and easy to store in the fridge for up to a week.

From the Cook

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Low-Calorie Pesto

Jule’s Menu Verified

Ingredients

WarningMilk and 3 other allergens identified

Instructions

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The evening before

Soak cashews in 200 ml of cold water for 8 hours or overnight. (Alternatively, pour boiling water over them and soak for one hour.)

Preparation

Toast the pine nuts in a dry pan over medium heat until they turn light brown and smell fragrant and nutty. Transfer them to a bowl and let them cool briefly.

Drain the cashews and rinse them thoroughly. Place them in a food processor, blender, or tall mixing container. Cut or grate the Parmesan into small pieces. Wash the basil and arugula, shake or spin dry, and add them to the processor.

Add the Parmesan, basil, arugula, and pine nuts to the cashews in the blender along with the remaining ingredients. Blend with the water until you get a creamy, smooth, and lump-free pesto.

Season with a little lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Transfer to an airtight jar and store in the refrigerator.

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About the Cook

Jule’s Menu

Hi, I’m Julia, and I’m the recipe developer, photographer, and author behind Jules’ Menu. I’ve spent the last eight years perfecting healthy everyday recipes so they strike the perfect balance between healthy and nourishing, simple and practical, and gourmet-level delicious.