Feta-Avocado Pesto Sauce

For a new, delicious take on your traditional pesto, you'll love this feta-avocado pesto sauce. The avocado adds a creamy, luscious texture while the feta delivers the perfect salty, tangy kick. When not any pesto will do, this feta-avocado version is just what you need.

Easy kitchen hack: If you want to make anything more delicious, add pesto and call it a day. OK, maybe I'm oversimplifying a tad, but pesto really does have magical powers. I'm sure of it.

How can something be so tasty and versatile without a little magic? Corny but true, especially when it comes to this particular pesto recipe.

Clearly, I love a classic pesto sauce, but the addition of feta and avocado puts this recipe over the top. And don't worry. We still get plenty of fresh basil flavor that endeared us to the classic pesto. The additional ingredients don't overpower the basil, but this variation's ultra creamy body makes this pesto sauce feel more indulgent and extra fancy.

Plus, you'll see this feta-avocado pesto sauce goes well with so many dishes. Who doesn't love one recipe that can serve so many functions? I know I sure do, and I bet you're right there with me.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Besides this feta-avocado pesto sauce's creamy texture and pop of fresh flavor, I love this recipe because it's quick and easy to make. Let's get to it, shall we?

We begin by pulsing garlic, fresh lemon juice and pistachios in a food processor until finely chopped. The classic pesto recipe uses pine nuts rather than pistachios, but I love the richness pistachios add.

With our garlic and pistachios finely chopped, we're ready to add the avocado, lots of fresh basil, crumbled feta and Parmesan to the mixture. Even after processing, you'll notice the mixture isn't quite smooth, but don't worry about that. We'll perfect that texture in the next step.

Let the food processor run and slowly stream in a hearty dose of olive oil. Give the pesto a taste and add a little salt and pepper to your liking. And that's it! See? I told you it was quick and easy.

How to Use

Oh, the possibilities! Obviously, this feta-avocado pesto sauce is amazing on pasta, but let's not stop there. This recipe is too good not to enjoy in every way imaginable. How do these other uses sound?

• Pizza base -- skip the tomato sauce and go with herby goodness.
• Burger topping -- mix it with mayo or use it as a spread on its own.
• Dip -- grill up some ciabatta or grab some crackers and go to town.
• Crostini -- spread this sauce on some toasted bread and top with ricotta and prosciutto.
• Tacos -- pesto may not be a traditional taco topping, but I promise you won't regret it.
• Grilled steak, chicken or fish sauce -- rather than a chimichurri, use this feta-avocado pesto in its place.
• Flavored rice -- stir in some pesto with fluffy white rice for a tasty side dish.

And those are just a few ideas. Feel free to get creative. I also have an upcoming recipe that uses this feta-avocado pesto sauce, and don't be surprised if more pop up in the future. In the meantime, these ideas should put your feta-avocado pesto sauce to good use.

Can You Freeze?

You sure can. With the feta, you might think freezing this sauce wouldn't work well, but it holds up nicely. You'll notice this pesto is a bit thicker once it thaws, but if you want to thin it out, you can add a touch more olive oil.

I like to freeze pesto in this ice cube tray with a plastic lid from Bed, Bath & Beyond. The plastic top does a great job of protecting the pesto from freezer burn, and you can thaw as little or as much as you'd like at a time.

Perfect Pairing

When beer is calling, I love a biere de garde with herb-forward meals, and this recipe is no exception. Biere de garde's yeast profile shows off a nice earthiness that blends well with the basil. A saison with its citrusy and grass-like notes is also delicious with this pesto.

For a wine night, you can't go wrong with a sauvignon blanc and pesto. The brightness from the wine brings out the basil, and I love how that crisp finish of the sauvignon blanc cuts through the avocado and olive oil.

If you're looking for an easy, delicious and versatile sauce that elevates nearly any meal, I hope you try this feta-avocado pesto sauce. I have no doubt you'll find yourself spooning this sauce on just about anything you can. Please let me know how you enjoyed this feta-avocado pesto sauce recipe in the comment section and don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter. You can also catch me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter.

Cheers!

Love Making Your Own Sauces and Seasoning Blends?

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