Carrot Top Pesto Recipe (2024)

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This is a very easy, delicious, and healthy carrot top pesto recipe. If you grow your own carrots or buy them with the tops at the farmer’s market, it’s a great way to use the tops.

Carrots are a must in my home garden! I think that of all the vegetables that we grow we love picking carrots the most. I plant carrots in early spring right when I can work my soil. Then I plant them again in the autumn garden for winter harvest.

Whenever they are ready, the kids will literally fight over them and I have to admit that over the years I had to plant more and more of them because many didn’t make it to the kitchen (I also sell many of them at the Farmer’s market).

Carrot Top Pesto Recipe…

We used to pull carrots from the garden, eat the carrots and toss the tops. The ducks and the chickens don’t like them much. The goats will eat them sometimes, I don’t have a compost pile (cause I give everything to the animals) and I didn’t want to throw them back in the garden because they invite the carrot fly over and that’s bad news.

But when you grow your own food, when you work so hard to plant, thin, water, and weed, it kinda makes your heart hurt to throw away anything… I don’t know where I got the idea to make carrot top pesto years ago… I just remember that one day I decided that instead of tossing the tops I’m gonna make something with them. I was so surprised with the result!

Carrot top pesto is super simple to make, very tasty, and behaves much better than basil pesto. It lasts in the refrigerator for a long time, you can freeze it in a mason jar, and it doesn’t oxidize(turns brown) as basil pesto does.

Table Of Contents

Ingredients…
Kitchen Tools…
How to Make Carrot Top Pesto…
How to Store Carrot Top Pesto…
How to Use Carrot Top Pesto…
Frequently Asked Questions…
More Carrot Content on the Blog…
More Delicious Recipes to Try…

Ingredients…

Carrot tops – I recommend that you try to use young leaves. You can use just the center leaves if you pick an older carrot or you can use the tops from carrots that you thin in the garden.
Parmesan cheese
Garlic
Nuts – use any kind of nuts that you want. In this recipe, I used walnuts but you can also use almonds or pine nuts or try anything else that you think will work.
Olive oil
Salt and black pepper

Kitchen Tools…

Cutting board
Knife
Measuring cup
Food processor
Spatula
Half-pint jars (or another container for storage)

How to Make Carrot Top Pesto…

Step one – process the nuts. Add walnuts (or other nuts) and peeled garlic cloves to the bowl of the food processor. Pulse the food processor a few times.

Step two – add carrot tops and process. Add Parmesan cheese and carrot tops (remove the stems and use only the leaves) to the bowl of the food processor.

How to Store Carrot Top Pesto…

In the fridge – transfer your pesto into a small container or jar to store in the fridge. It will last for a few weeks.
In the freezer – carrot top pesto also freezes very well so if you made more than you can eat fresh, just add it to half-pint mason jars, close the jars with a freezer lid and store them in the freezer. Carrot top pesto should last at least a year in the freezer.

How to Use Carrot Top Pesto…

As a spread – spread carrot top pesto on toast, add it to any sandwich, or spread it on crackers.
As a dip – make it a little on the runny side and use it as a dip (it’s a great appetizer). You can use chips, pretzels, or pita chips to dip in it.
In baked goods – fold it into bread dough before baking or use croissant dough to make cheesy pesto rolls…
As topping – try using carrot top pesto instead of pizza sauce when you make pizza at home. It’s delicious with feta cheese, olives, and dry tomatoes as toppings.
In sauces – use this carrot top pesto to make creamy pesto pasta sauce.

Frequently Asked Questions…

Can I use tops from any carrot variety?

Yes, you can use carrot tops from any variety. If you happen to grow purple carrots or yellow carrots in your garden or if you came by them at the farmer’s market, they will all work. Just make sure to use the young leaves simply because they taste better.

Any suggestion for different cheese?

I love substituting parmesan for asiago cheese. Any other kind of hard cheese should work.

Which nuts can I try?

Pine nuts, almonds, and walnuts are the ones that I tried and they all work great.

Does carrot top pesto turn brown?

No, carrot top pesto doesn’t oxidize and turn brown as basil pesto does. It should stay green and beautiful!

More Delicious Recipes to Try…

Easy Cilantro Pesto Recipe
Kale Pesto Recipe
How to Make Red Pepper Paste
Almond Basil Pesto
Cilantro Pesto Recipe
Garlic Pesto Recipe

Carrot Top Pesto

Yield: Approximately one cup.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Simple, healthy, and tasty carrot top pesto recipe.

Ingredients

1/2 cup walnuts
2 cloves of garlic, peeled
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
3 oz carrot tops (leaves only)
3/4 cup olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Step one. - to the bowl of the food processor, add the walnuts and garlic and pulse the food processor until they are combined.
Step two - add the cheese and the carrot leaves. Turn the food processor on and while it's working, add olive oil until the paste reaches your desired consistency (I added approximately 3/4 cup).
Step three - add salt and black pepper to taste. Store in the fridge or freeze.

Notes

Frequently Asked Questions...

Can I use tops from any carrot variety?
Yes, you can use carrot tops from any variety. If you happen to grow purple carrots or yellow carrots in your garden or if you came by them at the farmer’s market, they will all work. Just make sure to use the young leaves simply because they taste better.
Any suggestion for different cheese?
I love substituting parmesan for asiago cheese. Any other kind of hard cheese should work.
Which nuts can I try?
Pine nuts, almonds, and walnuts are the ones that I tried and they all work great.
Does carrot top pesto turn brown?
No, carrot top pesto doesn’t oxidize and turn brown as basil pesto does. It should stay green and beautiful!

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 24Serving Size: 1 tablespoon
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 85Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 53mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 1g

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Lee

Hi! I’m Lady Lee. I help homesteaders simplify their homesteading journey while still producing a ton of food! I am a single mother of four, I was born in Israel and raised in an agricultural commune called a Kibbutz. Now I homestead in central NC.

FAQs

What do you do with carrot tops? ›

Greens from younger carrots are milder than those from older carrots. Carrot tops are high in vitamin C, vitamin K, and potassium. Use them as you would parsley, or in place of parsley in recipes. Strip the leaves from the tough stems, add them to stock or soup, put them in salads, or make chimichurri.

Get More Info ›

Can you use carrot tops in stock? ›

Carrot greens' thick stems can add delicious flavor to vegetable stock, but they're too tough to use in salads, bowls, or sauces like this chimichurri. I like to use the tender leaves in carrot top recipes right away and freeze the stems to simmer into stock later on.

Learn More ›

Can you eat carrot tops raw? ›

The leafy tops, which remind me of parsley, taste herbaceous and vaguely reminiscent of, well, carrots. They can be eaten raw in salads, although their taste can be a little bitter.

Keep Reading ›

Why is pesto so expensive? ›

Its scarcity, plus the fact that the plants are picked roots, soil, and all to ensure that only juvenile leaves make it into pesto, makes it extraordinarily expensive and something that only premium, artisan pesto makers can justify using.

See Details ›

Why is pesto so high in fat? ›

That's largely down to the fact that most pesto sauces contain generous amounts of oil, nuts, and cheese. All three of these are high in fat and calories, so eating too much pesto, too regularly, and not getting enough exercise can ultimately be fattening.

See Details ›

Should you cut carrot tops? ›

Cut the green tops off your carrots to lock in nutrients. The leaves of root veggies steal their nutrients - even after they've been picked!

Get More Info ›

Can you use carrot tops like parsley? ›

Use carrot tops anywhere you would normally use parsley. Carrots, parsley, cilantro, and dill are all in the same botanical family, so they make easy substitutes for each other. Try using carrot tops in a familiar recipe if you are uncertain about their flavor.

Find Out More ›

Can you freeze fresh carrot tops? ›

You can freeze carrot tops, cut the tops off the carrots, wash and dry them well, then place them on a baking sheet in the freezer in a single layer for 2 hours. Transfer the frozen tops to an air-tight container (with the air squeezed out) and store in the freezer for up to 1 month.

Read On ›

Can carrot tops go in chicken stock? ›

Clean and very roughly chop celery and carrots and place in a large 12-quart stockpot. Peel garlic and add to the pot along with the cleaned onion and bay leaves. Tie together the carrot tops (if using), parsley, and sage with butcher's twine and add to the pot. Next, place in the chicken.

Discover More ›

Should I peel carrots before making stock? ›

1. When they're used for making stock. We've often used straight-up carrot peels for making stock, so if you're using chopped carrots, there's definitely no need to peel these root vegetables. And once the stock is finished simmering, they get strained out anyway.

Explore More ›

What vegetables should not be included in vegetable stock Why? ›

Softer vegetables such as potatoes or pumpkin are no good as they break down too easily, creating a cloudy stock. If adding fresh tomatoes, remove the seeds as they can impart a bitter taste. The fresher the vegetables you use for stock, the better the flavour will be.

Which part of carrot is not edible? ›

The root is orange red in colour due to the presence of β-carotene. The roots are the rich source of vitamin K and vitamin B6. The leaves are eaten by some animals and are believed to be toxic for human consumption. The part of the plant mostly eaten is the root.

Read On ›

Can dogs eat carrot tops? ›

In fact, every part of this vegetable, from the carrot itself to the leafy green tops, is safe for dogs to eat. They're a good, natural treat, and most dogs seem to like the flavor, too. That's why carrots are such an appealing alternative if you want to mix up your daily dog treat routine.

Know More ›

Are carrot tops medicinal? ›

In addition, carrot tops contain several vitamins and minerals essential to overall health, including vitamin A, vitamin C and potassium. A diet rich in these nutrients has been associated with many health benefits, such as improved immune function, reduced risk of chronic disease and improved heart health.

What is pesto traditionally made of? ›

Pesto is a sauce originating in Genoa, located in Italy's northern region. It originated around the 16th century and traditionally consists of crushed garlic, basil, and pine nuts blended with Parmesan cheese and olive oil.

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What is pesto mostly made of? ›

Pesto

Basil pesto
Alternative names	Pesto alla genovese
Region or state	Genoa
Main ingredients	Basil, garlic, olive oil, grated hard cheese, pine nuts
Cookbook: Pesto Media: Pesto

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