Made in minutes, Hazelnut Pesto with Thyme is a buttery, zesty twist on the classic. Just like all good pesto, it is wonderful served with pasta but it can also turn into the star ingredient in your savoury bakes.
Basil pesto. Gloriously green. Lip-smackingly good. This classic is, without a doubt, a firm family favourite in my household. But it’s such a favourite that I have to be careful not to rely on it too much. I have endless uses for this magic sauce and frequently use it in dips, sandwiches, savoury pastries, pasta, lasagne, and salad dressings. If I can squeeze a little green pesto into daily life, I will jolly well will do.
But just occasionally, I like to remind myself that there is more to the world of pesto that this one variant. I’ve been devising some savoury palmiers ready for Valentine’s Day and although I wanted to include some pesto in them, I needed a more subtle variety than my punchy green love could ever claim to be. I wanted something gentle, nutty and herby to resonate with – but not overpower – the other flavours included in these savoury palmiers.
Hazelnut Pesto with Thyme is the ideal accomplice to these ingredients.
Those buttery, almost sweet hazelnuts team up with lemony, peppery thyme amazingly well. Toss in a handful of extra delights (lemon, garlic, parmesan) and we’re well on our way to pesto heaven.
And the beauty is that the food processor does all of the hard work for us. This Hazelnut Pesto is ready in mere minutes.
I created this recipe specifically for my savoury palmiers. But I’m pleased to report that Hazelnut Pesto with Thyme also makes a highly successful marriage with a bowl of steaming pasta. Just like all great pestos should.
The sweet, nutty, lemony and herby flavours, with a hint of cheese and garlic naturally wrap themselves around the sleek, tender pasta. Bliss.
Come back in a few days and I’ll have my Hazelnut Taleggio Prosciutto Palmiers ready and waiting. They’re a wonderful Valentine’s treat for anybody lacking a sweet tooth. That’s not me, by the way. I can do sweet. I can do savoury. But I prefer to do both.
5 Minute Hazelnut Pesto with Thyme
Ingredients
- 100 g/ 2/3 cup Blanched hazelnuts
- 50 g/ 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 Small clove garlic
- Zest 1 lemon
- 1 tbsp Fresh lemon juice
- 30 g/ 3/4 cup Fresh thyme
- 100 ml/ 1/3 cup + 2 tbsp Olive oil
- Salt & pepper
Instructions
- Strip the leaves from the thyme
- Finely grate the parmesan
- Peel the garlic and roughly chop
- Put the hazelnuts into a foodprocessor (use the small bowl if you have one or use a stick blender) and pulse until course
- Add the cheese, thyme, garlic, zest and lemon juice. Pulse until desired consistency is reached, scrapping down the bowl as required
- Add the oil and some salt & pepper to taste. Briefly pulse to combine
- Best eaten fresh but can be stored for up to 3 days
Notes
Choclette
Ooh yes, what a splendid idea. I’ve often used hazelnuts in pesto along with a variety of herbs. But I’ve never tried thyme before. As you say pesto is such a versatile ingredient and I absolutely love it in sandwiches..
Jane Saunders
Don’t get me started on how good pesto is in place of butter….
Sisley White
This looks incredible! I would love to make this and sit and enjoy it with some crunchy bread.
Jane Saunders
It’s delicious – I must treat the family to another batch soon.
Cat | Curly's Cooking
This sounds amazing! I love hazelnuts and thyme so this is right up my street. Such a fantastic idea!
Jane Saunders
Thanks Cat.
Esha
I am a huge fan of anything pesto. And with hazelnuts and thyme, it sounds beyond delicious. What a fabulous recipe.
Ceri Jones
I’ve made pesto with hazelnuts before, but never thyme. Love the flavour of it though. I have some growing at home so maybe I should try this out asap! Lovely idea