Best Carrot Top Pesto Recipes

ROASTED CARROTS WITH CARROT TOP PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Trim and reserve the carrot tops. In a large bowl, toss the carrots with 2 tablespoons olive oil and the curry powder and salt. Arrange the carrots in a single layer on a baking sheet and roast until tender when pierced with the tip of a knife, 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle with the brown sugar and roast 2 to 3 minutes more. Remove and cool.
• In the food processor, pulse the walnuts a few times to break them up. Add the basil, carrot tops, honey, 3 tablespoons olive oil, a pinch of salt and 1/4 cup cold water. Pulse until combined but not completely smooth. If dry or too chunky, add another tablespoon olive oil or 1 to 2 tablespoons water to loosen. Transfer to a medium bowl. Taste for seasoning.
• Transfer the carrots to a serving platter. Stir the vinegar into the pesto and spoon the pesto over the roasted carrots.

CARROT-TOP PESTO

Steps:

• Pulse the carrot and parsley leaves, cashews and garlic in a food processor until coarsely ground. With the processor on, slowly drizzle in the oil, and process until blended well. Add the Parmesan and some salt, and pulse until combined.

MAPLE-ROASTED CARROTS WITH CARROT-TOP PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Scrub carrots very well and trim, leaving an inch of the green tops attached and reserving greens. Halve any large carrots lengthwise. Arrange in a shallow, foil-lined roasting pan. Toss with 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1/4 cup maple syrup. Season with 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper.
• Roast in the preheated oven until tender, stirring once or twice, about 40 minutes.
• Meanwhile, wash and trim 1 1/2 cups of reserved carrot greens. Bring water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add greens; cook until just wilted, about 30 seconds. Drain and immediately plunge into a bowl of ice water. Remove and blot dry on paper towels.
• Combine carrot greens, parsley, Parmesan cheese, almonds, lemon zest, garlic, and remaining 1 teaspoon maple syrup in a food processor. Pulse to chop. With machine running, drizzle in olive oil until well combined. Season pesto with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Drizzle roasted carrots with a little pesto and serve remaining pesto on the side.

ROASTED CARROTS WITH CARROT-TOP PESTO AND BURRATA

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 500 degrees F.
• Pour 2 tablespoons of the oil into a heavy ovenproof pan big enough to hold the carrots in a single layer. Set the pan over high heat and bring the oil to a light smoke. Add the carrots, sprinkle on 1 teaspoon of the salt, and turn the carrots to coat them in the oil. Cook, turning over the carrots occasionally, until they're browned in spots, 6 to 8 minutes. Pop the pan in the oven and roast, shaking the pan occasionally, until the carrots are evenly tender, 8 to 12 minutes, depending on the size of your carrots. Let the carrots cool slightly. Halve the burrata and arrange the halves on a platter. Arrange the carrots on the platter so they're pointing this way and that. Add the pesto here and there in little dollops.
• Pluck enough 2-to 3-inch delicate sprigs from the reserved carrot tops to make about 1 1/2 lightly packed cups and toss them in a bowl with the basil. Whisk together the remaining 2 tablespoons of the oil with the lemon juice and a good pinch of salt in a small bowl until the mixture looks creamy. Use a little of the lemon dressing to lightly dress the carrot top-basil mixture, sprinkle on a little more salt, and toss well. Arrange the mixture on top of the carrots and burrata. Drizzle everything with the remaining lemon dressing and serve.
• Combine the carrot tops and basil in a small food processor, pulse several times, then add the walnuts, Parmesan, garlic, and salt. Pulse several more times, add the oil, then process full-on, stopping and scraping down the sides of the processor or stirring gently if need be, until the mixture is well combined but still a bit chunky. Taste and season with more salt, if you fancy.

ROASTED BROCCOLI AND CARROTS WITH CARROT TOP PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, toss the broccoli, carrots and garlic with the olive oil, sesame seeds and some salt and pepper until fully combined. Transfer to an ungreased baking sheet. Roast until lightly brown and just tender, about 25 minutes. Drizzle with the Carrot Top Pesto.
• Place the leaves and stems from the carrot tops in a food processor with the parsley leaves, roasted cashews and garlic. Puree and then slowly drizzle in the extra-virgin olive oil while the machine is running. Add the grated Parmesan and kosher salt to taste. Puree until combined.

ROASTED CARROTS WITH TAHINI AND CARROT-TOP PESTO

Steps:

• Roast the carrots: Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• Cut the tops off the carrots, leaving about 1 inch of the stems still on. (Reserve the carrot-top greens for the pesto and garnish.) Cut the larger carrots in half lengthwise and leave the smaller ones whole. Place on a large rimmed baking sheet in a flat, even layer. Drizzle with a good amount of olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast until lightly charred and tender, but not mushy or falling apart, 10 to 15 minutes. Halfway through roasting, shake the pan so they roast evenly.
• Meanwhile, make the pesto: In a high-powered blender, combine the carrot-top greens, parsley, pistachios, olive oil, chives, salt, pepper, garlic, lemon zest and lemon juice. Blend on medium-high until combined but still chunky. If it looks too thick add 1 to 2 tablespoons oil to loosen.
• To serve: Place the roasted carrots in a shallow bowl, dish or platter and drizzle with the pesto, chopped pistachios, tahini and carrot-top greens. Serve immediately.

ROASTED CARROTS WITH CARROT-TOP PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Trim carrot tops, leaving some stem attached. Measure out 2 cups carrot tops and set aside; reserve any remaining carrot tops for another use.
• Toss carrots and vegetable oil on a rimmed baking sheet; season with salt and pepper. Roast, tossing occasionally, until carrots are golden brown and tender, 25-35 minutes. Let cool.
• Pulse garlic and nuts in a food processor until a coarse paste forms. Add basil, Parmesan, and reserved carrot tops; process until a coarse purée forms. Add olive oil and pulse until combined; season with salt and pepper. Serve carrots with pesto.
• DO AHEAD: Pesto can be made 1 day ahead. Press plastic wrap directly onto surface; chill. Carrots can be roasted 4 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.

CARROT TOP PESTO

Steps:

• To Toast The Nuts Toasting pine nuts, almonds, walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, cashews and pumpkin seeds brings out their flavor. Spread the nuts or seeds in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet, place in a preheated 350-degree oven and toast until fragrant and lightly browned, 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the nut or seed. Alternatively, nuts and seeds can be browned in a microwave. Spread in a single layer on a microwave-safe plate and microwave on high power, stopping to stir once or twice, until fragrant and lightly browned, 5 to 8 minutes. Watch them closely so they don't burn. To Make the Pesto In a food processor, combine the carrot leaves, oil, garlic, and salt and process until finely minced. Add the pine nuts and pulse until finely chopped. Add the Parmesan and pulse just until combined. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Use immediately or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.

CARROT TOP PESTO

Steps:

• Combine the greens and garlic in the bowl of a food processor fit with the chopping blade. (The smaller the food processor the better here, as the greens might escape the blade in a large machine.) Pulse until the the greens are finely chopped.
• Add the lemon juice, olive oil, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Process until you have a thick pesto, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a silicon spatula if you need to. Taste, and add more salt if needed.