I really, really like walnuts. They manage to be vaguely sweet but still meaty and they have this slight bitterness that goes with, well, everything. I like the way they round out the sweetness in these amazing walnut tartlets in the archives that I’m certain get overlooked by everyone but me, and contrast the sweet figs in this biscotti.
But I think they get especially awesome in savory applications, and not just as an accent to pasta or a salad. This “pesto” caught my eye — in an article about wine bars moving beyond serving the ubiquitous olives and cheese plates, something I can totally get behind — because it’s not basil pesto with a few walnuts for good measure, it’s not an olive tapenade with crunch, it’s actually a base of coarsely ground walnuts picked up with garlic, sherry vinegar and sundried tomatoes.
Even better, it took five minutes to put together which is equally perfect for those of you who are looking for some quick fixes for a New Years Eve party and those of, well, me who can only find about five minutes to spare each day, or at least until we hire a little extra help next month. Shh, don’t tell Jacob!
Things on toasts, previously: Artichoke-Olive Tapenade, Feta Salsa and Creamed Mushrooms
For Your Next Party: All gathered in one place, and finally updated. Thanks Alex!
One year ago: Pecan Sandies
Two years ago: Caramel Cake
Three years ago: Coq Au Vin
Walnut Pesto Crostini
Adapted slightly from Jody Williams at Gottino in the West Village
Makes about 1 cup pesto
1 cup walnut halves and pieces, toasted and cooled
1/4 cup grated or crumbled parmesan cheese
1 small garlic clove, minced
Leaves from 3 sprigs of thyme
Red pepper flakes
1/2 to 1 teaspoon sherry vinegar
1/3 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons minced sun-dried tomatoes (dried or oil packed)
Salt, to taste
In a food processor, coarsely grind walnuts, cheese, garlic, thyme, 1/2 teaspoon vinegar, and a pinch or two of red pepper flakes. Stir in oil and tomatoes. Season to taste with salt. Add remaining 1/2 teaspoon vinegar if desired.
Even though I’m not really a fan of nuts, I had to post something because Jacob is just too cute! I could eat him for a snack :-)
Never had walnut pesto, but it sounds and looks fabulous. Can’t believe how big he is already!
YES! I love nuts. Probably because I’m a little nuts myself (nyuk nyuk nyuk). This sounds like a nice simple treat.
This sounds really delicious and the simplicity makes it even tastier. On a side note…that boy’s hair is amazing!
This sounds phenomenal…I seem to be in a phase where I only use pecans. As much as I love them, I’d all but forgotten about how wonderful walnuts can be until now. So thanks for the inspiration!
This sounds amazing! I am just now starting to explore how versatile walnuts are and this is a great one!
Holy cow, he’s gorgeous. Look at that hair!
(and we’re enjoying the hell out of the creamed mushrooms on chive butter toast recipe you posted a bit ago. It’s fantastic AND I can make it with a two week old baby in the house. I think I’ll be trying this one soon. Thank you!)
I love walnuts and sundried tomatoes – this is a perfect match made!
Oh, Deb. He is just gorgeous. I mean, look at that hair! Somehow managing to only get yourself into the kitchen, but also to blog about has to be quite the feat when you have such an adorable new housemate.
Anyway, this looks marvelous. And I have all the necessary ingredients to boot. Thanks for the inspiration!
Walnuts are an almost perfect nut. I agree.
THAT BABY is one of the cutest I have ever seen! I love the savory walnut recipe but the baby? He’s too much cuteness in one bundle.
What a great idea! I substitute walnuts for pine nuts in regular basil pesto all the time . . . will have to try this!
Beautiful pesto, looking forward to trying this recipe. Also many thanks for the party food and brunch suggestions! I needed serious help 2 yrs ago when I attempted brunch for 8, eggs florentine was not a smart choice. The hideous cold eggs could not even be covered with the disgusting vat of layered yolks and melted butter. My friends have yet to let me forget it, but it’s been fun making it up to them, like with your filled stout cupcakes that are fabulous, by the way.
That sweet baby! I don’t even look at your recipe before I scroll down to see if there is a picture of your Jacob. He’s growing up so fast!
I DO look at the recipes. I promise.
That looks sooo good. I too love walnuts, so I will have to try this out.
And that little man of yours….absolutely adorable! But I have a feeling you already know that.
Mmm, pesto … mmm, walnuts … mmm, swirly brown cinnamon bun hair …
SO CUTE!!!!!!
We (I am sure I speak for us all) LOVE the pics of Bebe; Thanks for sharing!
(and yeah, I too read and make the recipes, but they wouldn’t be the same, just not so good, without the J pic!)
Wow, your son looks so different in this photo – so contemplative. Amazing how a personality is so present… so early. Ah, life…
And now that I am completely distracted, what was I going to say?
Oh yes, thank you for the great holiday appetizer. This looks wonderful – as usual!
xo Michaela
I love how Jacob looks like a tiny person, not just a baby. He is going to be such a handsome boy and man; we can already tell! It feels odd for this Grandma to be so nuts over an unrelated baby, when there’s a 5-month-old right within arm’s reach!
Jacob is too cute!
And this looks like an awesome addition to any NYE spread!
Looks wonderful! I just made the walnut/marjoram pesto from 101 cookbooks last week, and it was also fantastic — equally easy. I highly recommend it.
oh forget pesto! I mean, would you look at that kid. cuteness personified.
I do love walnuts and Jacob is getting so big!! His hair is just gorgeous!!
Jacob just gets cuter by the post! I’m still in awe of his hair! I too love walnuts and will give this one a go – but I love seeing Jacob even more! Happy New Years!
Probably the cutest baby in the world. What? Pesto? Sorry, I got distracted.
Mmmmmm! I used to live on nuts, absolutely adore them. We make pesto with basil that we grow every summer. But this— this looks like finely chopped ecstasy.
Perfect! With a glass of wine and a bite like this, I could die happy. Well, with that plus having help with my kid–good for you for hiring someone! I need to get on that train.
Maybe I will hire someone specifically to watch my kid while I drink wine and eat walnut pesto on toast. Now THAT’s living.
I worked in a fancy kitchen store growing upl. We would set out samples of an awesome walnut pesto, and I would secretly eat it all! I never find any that I like better. Maybe I’ll try to make my own! Thanks for the great recipe.
I would be completely happy if you decided to rename your site “smitten kitchen & way-too-adorable-baby-jacob”
Yes, please. Boyfriend is meeting friends tonight, and won’t need a meat+starch+veg dinner. This will be dinner.
I don’t want to eat your walnut pesto, just pass the baby please! Please don’t block me from your site for wanting to nibble on those cheeks, okay?
Awww, what a cute picture of Jacob! We’re big walnut fans too and always have a big bag from Costco in the kitchen. Love this flavorful pesto!
That sounds interesting. I’m not sure if I have enough people interested in nuts to make this, though I totally would make even more of the fig and walnut biscotti. I love it to pieces!
Love the idea in theory, but I’d probably use another nut.
Are you ever going to do a cookbook? Please say one is in the works!
Yes, I love nuts; no, walnuts are not my fave; yes, I will try this; yes, are you doing a cookbook?
I am sorry but “that” wee one is beautiful! I already have 4, too old for more, husband plenty happy bout that…but my gosh, that child pulls at ya!!!!
deb!! i can’t figure out how to email you… i know that once i post this i will somehow easily see how to email you, anyways i saw this recipe and it reminded me of your blogs and i have never seen anything like… sorry in advance, i know you don’t want full recipes posted but i just had to get it to you!
Marzipan Ice Cream (just scroll down)
http://cannelle-vanille.blogspot.com/2009/10/roasted-apples-with-almond-and.html
so cute! i’m sorry to be posting about the baby rather than the food. but his face looks so much like a little boy instead of a baby, it’s remarkable. he’s adorable :)
and i want to try this pesto.
I, too, must comment about the baby before the food–SO CUTE. There’s something really … wise-looking about him. Is he calm? I picture him being a calm baby.
This looks delicious! Though, I must confess, I’m still more tempted by the creamed mushroom tapenade. I started to make it the other day, only to discover that my mushrooms had gone bad. Tragic.
I do, however, have some walnuts languishing in my fridge …
So yummy! And the food looks good, too :)
Can’t wait to try this recipe. The original version at Gottino is absolutely to die for. Worth getting a babysitter to make the trip.
I’m SO glad I clicked on this. I almost let it slide in my reader and thought I ought to at least have a look. WOW, does that sound good. And THANK YOU for the “all in one place” party link. Very helpful.
Oh and Jacob’s not cute at all. Not completely adorable and totally pinchable. Nope not one bit. ;)
Timely appetizer post for a girl who has to make appetizers for New Year’s eve dinner – at a yurt. Can make the pesto ahead and toast the bread on the wood stove. Light weight for packing in the 2.5 miles on skis, too. Yay!
We have had this at Gottino, as well as ‘Inoteca on L.E.S., they call it “Noci”.
I love it!
Now I know how to make it!
Thanks Debra, and Happy and Healthy New Year!
Oh man, my mom used to make something very similar when I was younger, and I always prayed for party leftovers so I could gobble it up. Thanks for the reminder; I’ll have to try this and get her recipe!
you’re so amazing, posting all the time with your hands so full. i used to come here all the time for the food posts and now i’m not sure if i come here even more for a peek at the cutest baby boy ever. would happily babysit if we lived closer. too bad about those pesky new border rules.
That looks devine. But, more importantly, that is the cutest baby ever. Love this blog. I just made your chocolate cookies, and my mil made the short ribs last weekend. She said they were beyond delicious.
Walnuts are my favorite nut, too. I’ve always wanted to try Bittman’s walnut-breadcrumb sauce for pasta. The crostini are so humble-looking, even though they also scream delicious. I think they’d look good on a plate alternated with creamed corn crostini or something of the sort.
I love all the meatless recipes you’ve been posting lately. Not that i’m a vegetarian but I do appreciate it. Walnuts + sundried tomatoes sounds like a fantastic combination. Jacob’s hair is so cute! Happy New Year!
Having a cocktail party tonight and needed one more appetizer that was different and unique – here it is! Happy New Year!
Yeah yeah nice looking pesto but THE BABY, So cute what a solemn look he has there! The eyes reminded me of Sara Crewe, well not her, but the description of her eyes in the book
Hi!
I’ve not commented before, though I’ve been reading since just before your cutie patootie was born.Just love his pix! Anyway, I too adore walnuts and will def make this next party time (looks delish), but I wanted to comment on your comment about your forgotten walnut tartlets. Actually, for Xmas I very much found the recipe and decided to tweak it to make cookies. Butter, flour, powdered sugar shortbread crust in in 13×9 pan par-baked: Doubled filling with nuts chopped rather small; Baked the hell outta it so everything got really richly dark brown; Cut into diamonds and Voila! New cookie for repertoire. I prob would keep the salt at just the 1/2 teasp. and the orange at the 2 teasp. for the doubled recipe next time, but sooo good. Do try!
It’s really only this year that I learned to appreciate pesto – I think I was traumatized by all the overly basiled ones served in such large quantities that they drowned out everything else on the plate. Finally, realized this summer, after making a few myself that pesto is actually magical – can’t wait to try this one out!
I can’t believe I’m just now coming across your website. I’m so enthralled by everything you cook! Can I come visit?
I love walnut pesto too! It’s great on the artichoke tortellini they sometimes have frozen at Trader Joes! My recipe is similar: walnuts, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, basil, romano cheese, and lemon zest. I love walnuts in sweet and savory applications.
Do you hear a faint crying sound from the Southwest? That’s me, crying tears of joy. I had walnut pesto ten years ago in business class on British Airways and this was served, and I’ve had a yearning for it ever since. Every time I’ve looked for a recipe, something hasn’t seemed quite right – until now. Can’t wait to make this!! It’s almost like I have the two pounds of walnuts in my house with this in mind!
Do you just take photos of that child when he’s being angelic, or is he ACTUALLY like that?! I mean, you’re getting close to convincing a died-in-the-wool anti-child woman that she might have to re-evaluate her life choices. Damn it. GOD but he’s adorable.
Love walnuts and sundried tomatoes. Thanks for the inspiration!!
Jacob is just too cute! and that pesto looks delicioussss!!
Okay, I’ll bite and give this a try. I haven’t learned to appreciate walnuts, unless they are in banana bread. Also I’m glad to know I’m not the only one in awe of Jacob and his gorgeous head of hair. Oh boy, he’s a lucky little guy.
I LOVE walnuts. Hell, I love all nuts. I love pesto too. Any kind of pesto, really… So, this seems pretty much like a dream come true. It looks so yummy!
snacks have never been better!! they look great!
See I hear tapenade, and immediately my brain starts screaming NO because I can’t do olives. Ick. This is a great alternative to that. I wish I’d had this for my Christmas party, I was wracking my brain for a winter solution to bruchetta, this would have done nicely.
Hi Deb-
Have you ever tried the northern Italian (specifically Ligurian) sauce for pasta called salsa di noci? It sounds similar to the Bittman recipe mentioned above. It’s typically served on pansotti (as pansotti con salsa di noci) and it is SUBLIME. I feel you must try it!
Ok, Deb. I know I say this everytime you post a recipe since giving birth but…Jacob is the most beautiful baby on the planet!
Oh- and I love walnuts, too! I can’t wait to try this pesto recipe…
i love all these little toasts you’re making, these are definitely going to be tried out soon as well!
Your little one is growing up!
I’m intrigued by this walnut pesto.
you’ve done it again Deb! Another amazing recipe. And the little one is getting so big already! He looks so handsome in that picture!
Oh, I love pesto and I will definitively try a new version. My children are big fans too!
Thanks!
I am from the south (living up north) and my mother & mil LOVE walnuts. They would like this but no man that I am living with would. (son or husband:)
Jacob is too cute for words. You must be so ‘smitten’ I’m sure. ;) What a cutie! He does look a lot like you too.
Great recipe. I may try making a vegan version substituting the P. cheese with nutritional yeast.
Have I mentioned that I found the counter-tops in this apartment soothing? Almost as soothing as Jacob’s perfect face and fluffy hair. Almost.
Look at those wee little shoulders.
I’m all over this walnut pesto–looks delicious. I love walnuts, and walnuts + toast seems like a pretty fabulous idea to me.
This looks so good! I love ground walnuts and use them in several savory dishes instead of pine nuts when called for. You are right, toasting them really brings out the flavor. It also takes away that slightly bitter edge and that acid gives some folks bumps on their tongue!
Jacob appears to be looking at you with narrowed eyes! Uh oh! I think he might have overheard you talking about hiring someone. I’d apply if I lived closer! He’s a cutie!
I can’t believe how much Jacob has grown! He’s so cute.
This recipe sounds great for New Year’s Eve.The crunch is definitely calling to me.
When I was a vegetarian, I relied on soaked nuts as one of my protein sources.
Today I still soak walnuts overnight in salt water and then dehydrate them for whenever I need them. The soaking makes the nuts more digestible and their nutrients more accessible to the body.
The soaked walnuts are sweeter than the unsoaked.
Thank you for the recipe.
I don’t know I might make this but mostly I read the blog to see the pretty pictures and dream of the day I make everythink on my list. I just had to say that your baby is really cute. I am not just saying that because I have three of my own and honestly there are not any cuter. What I love of about your pictures is that it reflects his old soul. i know that sounds odd but my oldest had an old soul and she still does. She is 19 and though not studying to be a neurosurgeon she is beyond her years when it comes to life.
What a unique idea, can’t wait to try out the recipe. Walnuts are great for health too! I must say your little one Jacob is a doll, there is a wonderful sensitivity about his face. Beautiful!
I can’t believe how big Jacob is…didn’t you just have him a few weeks ago?????
He’s adorable.
This does sound lovely….and I have a bunch of walnuts. Let’s see if I can add this to the list of NYE snackity snacks! That photo of Jacob, wow. I don’t know what light is behind you, sparkling in his eyes, but it’s a really cool shot. He looks mesmerized.
Looks amazing. I would never have thought about making this.
This sounds amazing Deb – what an original combination!
I love the walnut pesto at Gottino. Well, I love everything Jody makes!
arrrrgh! Sherry vinegar! I never seem to find it when a recipe calls for it….Can I use a different vinegar????
Diana — Just use a mild one, such as champagne or white wine, or a sweet, mellow balsamic if you have.
This is FANTASTIC — fabulous!! Your tastes and mine are completely in SYNC! Keep it coming! Oh, sweeter than sweet Jacob. What reflections would you be sharing if you could talk at this age? We shall have to wait a while longer to find out what is on your mind, you beautiful creature. :)
I’ll admit it..I look for the gorgeous baby pics before even looking at the recipe.
Looks delicious and even though I have a NYE cocktail menu planned I always feel like I am going to run out. Jacob is like “help? did I hear the word help?”
I am making this for my New Year’s weekend in Tahoe. I am also obessed with walnuts. One of my favorite snacks is walnuts toasted with olive oil, sea salt and a pinch of sugar.
On a side note, that is the cutest baby photo I have EVER seen. Don’t tell my niece…
Forget the pesto, I’d prefer to nosh on that sweet, earnest little face. I don’t eat dairy so I might have to try and adapt this wonderful sounding recipe. Thanks for the baby & food fix.
I am here to admit that I have a walnut problem…. I eat them on anything and everything I can! Sprinkled on my oatmeal or ice cream, in my pancake batter or straight from the bag… I love to put them in a pan with some butter, brown sugar and vanilla and cook them until they become candied. (That makes them even BETTER on ice cream!) They have the perfect texture and a timid sweetness that makes them so addictive. I can’t wait to try them in something savory besides my salad. Thanks, from one walnut addict to another!
No reason is ever needed to post cute baby pics – he is adorable!
I am putting the recipe on my appetizer wish list to try as I want to come up with something good, yet unique, for my son’s graduation in 2012 that will served along with the Funyons and Doritos that I know he and his friends will want.
Oh, yes. Walnuts. I love them too. I put walnuts into everything: muhsroom pasta dishes, ice cream, bread dough, your ranch rugelachs (he he), etc.
Funny eh, I’m actually making walnut pesto for dinner tonight, along with whole-wheat spaghetti: olive oil, parsley, chopped walnuts and grana padano – just sooooo good.
And I’ll for sure try this toast version of yours!
P.S. You saw already? You are a finalist for the AT home blog awards (Homies) in the “Home Cooking” category (http://homies.apartmenttherapy.com/2009/category/home-cooking). YAY. You got my vote already :)
Thanks for the recipe & happy new year!
WOW the walnut pesto looks really good.
I love walnuts too! For Christmas one of our side dishes was Brussels with walnuts and bacon.
My mouth is watering; this looks fabulous…what a beautiful baby picture…I’m going to create this tomorrow night for New Year’s Eve atop Gluten Free Crackers!
Thank you and Happy New Year! Keep up the great work and blogging in 2010!
Best,
Amie
Love walnuts – what a great recipe. Just recently made the chocolate peanut butter cake. My entire family went gaga over it. And talk about going gaga…… Jacob is the most beautiful baby I have ever seen. How do you stand it???? Every time I see his adorable little face it makes my day!
forget the food, eat that little chin!
is it wrong that i sometimes click on “continued after the jump” solely for a potential baby pic and NOT because i am interested in this particular recipe????? this is such a sweet picture. what a cutie. :-)
would this work without a food processor? maybe just some vigorous chopping? :) no blender either…
Great, versatile recipe! I was desperate for something unique to do with the chicken I had in the fridge. So I decided to grill the chicken and add the chicken along with this petso sauce to pasta. My husband loved it and couldn’t get enough. I will definitely do this combination again. Thanks for your great ideas. I cook from your recipes regularly!
I made this last night on a whim to take to a NYE party. It didn’t hurt that I had everything called for in the recipe except the sherry vinegar. After doing a little online searching it seemed like a workable substitute would be equal parts red wine vinegar and balsamic vinegar so that’s what I used. The garlic was fairly assertive but not overpowering but I second the note that it should be a small clove. The pesto was delicious and a sure hit (as all of your recipes are that I’ve tried!). Sure doesn’t hurt that it’s gluten free either since I’ve got several friends who have to live that lifestyle. I served it on rice crackers for them and on crostini for the rest of us. YUM!!!
Jacob is a very lucky little boy! He will grow up on your chocolate peanut butter cake and walnut pesto among all the other wonderful things his mama makes and shares with us.
Awesome! Made it tonight and it was great. My husband who doesn’t typically like nuts loved it! Thank you…Happy New Year!
I just made this pesto with a few shifts for my family’s New Year’s Day open house. The difference was my father does home made oven dried tomatoes from our garden so I put those in and it was wonderful. Since it wasn’t on the main table, the guests didn’t eat it but that means there’s more for my family. A fantastic recipe and so easy. Thank you, I love seeing what’s on your site every day.
Kate
Oooh, I have all of these ingredients on hand and will make these today!
It has been bitter cold here, too, so I’m cooking up a storm to keep busy.
I once made a walnut pesto from a Bill Granger recipe. It tastes amazing with wholewheat spaghetti and a bit of ricotta. Just had to share that!
OMG – Jacob is so adorable I can’t take!!!
I made this tonight to go over wholewheat spaghetti for a quick dinner. It was delicious! Since this is post holiday season (read ‘damage control’), I decreased the amount of oil and thinned out the pesto with some of the pasta cooking water. Yum! the whole thing dissapeared in a matter of minutes. I will increase the quantities next time…..it was just barely enough for the 3 kids and me. Can you say Omega 3? Thanks Deb!
Wonderful pesto. I never really liked walnuts until I started to bring those super-sweet walnuts from Slovakia. Now I love to use them in desserts or salads. I should try this pesto as well!
The baby is so cute! I love that soft, silky hair :)
What a cutie your little Jacob is! My first nephew was born around the same time, also very cute, also named Jacob, but he has not a hair on his head. :)
I made this over the holidays – everyone thought they were pine nuts! All the richness, half the cost! And besides, has anyone EVER toasted a pine nut without burning the little (#*$*# the first time? I swear I looked at them a second ago and they were fine! Now they’re $8 of charcoal!
Rave reviews for this recipe, will be a mainstay as ingredients are always on hand in my kitchen. Thanks Deb!
BTW – I used oil packed tomatoes, then just backed off on the olive oil (ok, who am I kidding!)
I had some Sun-Dried Tomato and Olive tapenade and used this in the recipe. Backed off a little on the salt and oil, and it came out totally fabulous! It’s extremely rich and tasty.
I was inspired by your walnut pesto recipe but I didn’t have it in me to drive to the grocer to pick up some necessary ingredients, so I improvised. I always have a good supply of walnuts on hand as I put them in at least 70% of the meals I eat plus I love to share them with my macaw who screams for them…NUTS!!!!!
I can’t eat cheese (yeah, a REAL bummer) so I had to omit that. I added onions & garlic, thyme, a tad of olive oil & walnuts to a hot skillet. I didn’t have sun-dried tomatoes so I chopped up a heap of 2 kinds of mushrooms. I didn’t have any sherry vinegar either so I threw in some red wine before adding the shrooms….and I drank a glass of wine while the shrooms cooked. It made my kitchen smell good! I toasted my bread slices and brushed them with olive oil & a tad bit of balsamic vinegar before heaping on my walnut-shroom topping. It came out pretty good, but it really needed parmesan cheese to be a hit.
I’m definitely going to try your recipe as written (sans Parmesan) as soon as I can get to the grocer and stock up on some sun-dried tomatoes….and more wine. :)
Cheers to you!
Yum! I made it this weekend for a get together I was having and it was a hit! It was so easy to put together too! This is definitely going in my recipe binder. Thank you!
I made this last night. Great recipe, one tip: If you use oil-packed sundried tomatoes, cut back on the olive oil! It was a huge success with my guests, but I had to let it sit so all of the extra oil could collect in the bottom of the bowl before spooning it onto the bread.
I also added about 5x the recommended amount of thyme and I doubled the parmesan. This was partly in an effort to absorb oil, but it worked well. As for sherry vinegar, I found that around 6-8 drops worked well.
Thanks for the great site and great recipes!
Just made this for a treat the night before being snowed in. This is awesome and so easy. I’m bringing this to the next get-together I go to.
These also go fantastically with the crisp rosemary flatbread! I took them to a party tonight and both were hits, especially together.
This is sooo very tasty! I threw all the ingredients in the food processor (except the olive oil) and substituted white wine vinegar. The mixture ended up being more finely than coarsely chopped, which I thought worked out quite well. I spread the pesto on thin, oven-toasted slices of a wheat berry baguette.
Some other blogger posted this recipe and photo as her own. I started checking her out because she took one of my recipes/photo with credit to herself (her profile says “all recipes are mine unless otherwise noted”). She has disabled comments and does not have an email on her profile (I wonder why…). If you find a way to contact her, please let me know, I want to tell her to STOP stealing other people’s work. http://domesticblissinoregon.blogspot.com/2010/03/crostini-w-walnut-pesto.html
I just made this for a reception and it got rave reviews. I added maybe twice as many sun-dried tomatoes as the recipe calls for – I found that it cut the bitterness of my walnuts well.
I made the pesto tonight, and it was great! I doubled the portions so that I’d have enough for a large batch of pasta. I couldn’t find sherry vinegar, so substituted red wine vinegar. It took a few large splashes of red wine vinegar to do the job, but that’s probably because I added to much salt.
This pesto is absolute divinity. I made it last night and will be making it again tonight, not to mention many more moons to come. Thanks for posting!
This is amazing. I ate the entire batch (made no changes) with a loaf of crusty bread. Then I died of happiness.
Made this during halftime of the Patriots / Ravens game yesterday (nuts toasted; minus the thyme, which I just didn’t have in the house; and minus the salt, which I thought was unnecessary given the cheese). Easy and *excellent*.
Yum. As a vegan who avoids over processed foods, nut pestos are a fantastic substitute for cheese in baked pasta and lasagna dishes. No funky plastic cheese substitutes, just natural, delicious richness. And I love that this is very much about the walnuts, not basil! I’ll probably try this by omitting the cheese and upping the walnuts and sundried tomatoes.
This was delicious. I made the recipe as described (so good) and then another batch without the parmesan for a friend who can’t have dairy (obviously not as good but still very tasty). Thanks!
This is perfect! I recently had this at Gottino and I can’t tell the difference. Good job!
Screw the pesto…That Little boy is SOOO adorable. I am sure he looks nothing like that now but I want to snuggle all over him! Actually I think I saw some more recent photos of him the other day while looking at some of your food photos.
Keep up all the great work!
k2
The walnut pesto is TO DIE FOR! My family can’t get enough! We had to sub. red wine vinegar because we couldn’t find the sherry vin. Still excellent!
i made this for a potluck and it got rave reviews. i’m thinking of making it again very soon, it was THAT delicious. and i did it the lazy girl way, with dried thyme and un toasted walnuts. and good advice on the sherry vinegar – a little goes a long way.
I made this but substituted apple cider vinegar and cut the oil a bit – simply divine.
This is just incredible! Even my pesto-skeptical husband rated it 5 stars. Thanks for sharing; I truly love your blog.
He is adorable, and excudes the curious gaze of his oh so talented mother!
Hi, I would like to use sundried tomatoes preserved in salt, as I happen to have a ton in the fridge. Should I just rinse them and pat them dry, and take up from there?
I haven’t worked with them at all, but rinsed sounds like the best approach. Where did you get them?
In Italy, where I live, you find them either in oil or salt at regular supermarkets.
Ah, thank you! Sounds wonderful.
This is AMAZING, I know make it all the time for an easy and so tasty appetizer. So many levels of flavor I couldn’t believe it
Hi Deb – I was lucky enough to attend your author event in Kansas City yesterday. What a pleasure it was to meet you and to learn about your creative process.
This recipe looks like a perfect thing to try for a party I’m giving next weekend. I have a few questions that I’m not finding answers to in the comments.
First, can the pesto be made in advance? And, if so, what I store it in the fridge or at room temperature?
And, speaking of temperature, is this best served at room temperature?
Thanks for any input. I can’t wait to dive in to your new book!
So this is, erm, going above and beyond, but my family cannot tell I’m using walnuts if I soak them overnight. It removes some of the tannins and they are no longer bitter, perfect for my picky kids who will sit there and do strange faces accompanied by repeated tongue rubbings along their teeth and roof of their mouth if I don’t soak them first. Now if you like bitter (like me) it shouldn’t matter, but if the rest of your family turns up their noses at walnuts (like mine), there is a solution!
I’m with your most recent commenters – I’d love to give this as gifts over the holidays, if it will keep that is… I’m a sucker to giving people homemade things in jars, and this sounds like it could be a doozy!
I love your recipes but I wish you’d give us
grams or ounces as well as cup measurements.
This was simple and delicious! I made it without the parmesan and it was great. :) To anybody else wanting to omit the cheese I suggest adding just a little more salt to help balance the flavors.
This is soo good! It’s pretty quick to whip together and has such good flavor. I made a double batch to bring to a party and have been putting the leftovers on avocado toast.
Why did I wait so long before making this for the first time? It was one of our appetizers at Christmas (on toasted baguette slices), and everyone loved it, including my mother, who hates nuts and harbours a special dislike of walnuts.
I also made the „crushed olives with almonds, celery and Parmesan“ from your new book, and my sister and I agreed they were delicious although we both don‘t particularly care for celery (my mother would have preferred it without though; sister, on the other hand, immediately requested the recipe). However, since it doesn‘t actually say in the recipe that the olives are supposed to be crushed, I left them whole (despite the title of the recipe). Another time I‘d probably cut them into quarters or slice them. That was also my brother-in-law‘s only criticism. Anyway, thank you for helping me with my Christmas appetizers!
Oof, thanks for letting me know about the olives. Glad you loved the dish(es) though!
I make this every year for my Chanukah Ladies Night Out Potluck party. It is a big hit. Everyone loves it! Easy to make; delicious to eat. A winner for sure. The only trick I’ve learned over the years is to cut the bread fairly thin (1/4″ or so).
I too would like to make this pesto to gift to my friends at Christmas. How about answering a 2 1/2 year old question? How long will this keep?
I find it keeps really well for weeks. But make sure there’s enough oil to cover it. Pack it in a jar.
Hi Deb, how far in advance can you make this Walnut Pesto? Should it be refrigerated or not? Thank you—sounds delicious!
Refrigerate. I find it lasts a couple weeks, sometimes longer.
Wondering if this will keep for a couple of weeks. Could be great for gift giving, and I like to make ahead. Also, does it need to be stored in the fridge? Sounds delicious and it’s inspiring me.
Just throwing in my two cents, based on experience — no, I would only serve this fresh, as in blended and served immediately. The walnuts will soak up all the oil, and they will soften, and the pesto will become crumbly. It’s edible the next day, but I wouldn’t let it go beyond that!
I used to love this dish at Gottino and have never seen it since, despite searching for every iteration of walnut + pesto on the internet. Everything was green! Thanks for sharing the recipe, as it’s been years since I’ve been back to the restaurant. This long, long year of Covid restrictions has had me searching for how to recreate some of my favourite dishes at home and this one has long been on that list. So excited to try it!
Made this today… I’m not a big fan of walnuts, but I’m getting there. This was yummy and made a wonderful base for my ham and cheese sandwich. Thanks so much :)
There is an amazing Italian grocery in Jersey City called Cangiano’s that uses sundried peppers in oil as a condiment on its sandwiches. Is that a possible sub for the sundried tomatoes? Would anything else have to change?
Dear Deb – just coming back to say how much I love this recipe. I *always* have all the ingredients on hand, and I actually make it as a pasta sauce — I leave some hot pasta water in with the noodles (rotini please!) and then ladle the pasta over the pesto in a bowl. Stir it up, and it’s my weeknight, nothing fresh in the house, go-to gourmet meal. So good! Thanks for sharing this!
Walnut pesto. This is a little gem where a small number of ingredients pack a whollop of flavour. Worth having walnuts and sundried tomatoes in the pantry. I have to say I was not previously a fan of walnuts because I had eaten the ones that were verging on bitter. Try to find the big fat guys-they are meaty and next time I will double this for future culinary insurance.
. I am wondering what the shelf life on this might be– I see Deb has it listed as a potential kitchen gift. Any culinary intel on that issue? Thank you once again SK.
I find it keeps for a few weeks in the fridge. A little extra oil on top, ensuring everything is submerged, and it keeps even better.
This was so easy and delicious. A really different little appetizer, loved it.
So fortuitous that my grocery delivery picker sent me an extra bag of walnut halves just before you posted this to IG! It’s delicious. Made a double batch and slathered it on some crusty olive sourdough from my favorite bakery. Delicious!
Excellent! Fast! Healthy! Tasty! Had it on toasted Baguette with a salad for dinner and again for lunch.
Deb, I notice your walnuts appear skinless. Did you take the time to remove the skins, toast and rub in towel or did they come like that? Do you get walnuts from a specialty store or use a typical brand such as Diamond? My walnuts had quite a bit of skin. Thank you for your input.
They have skin; the photos just aren’t that clear. I promise: I will never, ever have the patience to skin walnuts. :)
I just wanted to share this with you.
My future daughter’ n law and son bought me your cookbook “Smitten Kitchen Keepers” as a thank you gift.
I am on your email mailing list. ( for years )
I have past on a recipe or two to them. ( and others )
(They too live in New York)
I was soooo very surprised to have been honoured with one of your cookbooks.
I absolutely adore you. You are too funny, and I look foreword to your your emails. You make me laugh out loud.
Wishing you continued success in all your endeavours.
You and your family are just so lovely.