Easy Wild Garlic Pesto (keto, paleo, low-carb, vegan)

Making pesto at home is so easy. You only need a few ingredients to make this delicious high-fat dip!

What I love most about pesto is how versatile it is — it works with any herbs, nuts and seeds and there are plenty more pesto recipes here. Most recipes use basil but this one is made with fragrant wild garlic, also known as bear garlic, ramsons or ramps. Wild garlic is in season between March and June so check it out before it's gone!

It's delicious. The scent and flavour are somewhere between garlic, chives and spring onion. It tastes great with pretty much anything, especially salmon, pork and in salads.

You can use any nuts or seeds although I made this wild garlic pesto dairy-free and nut-free (pine "nuts" are technically seeds). Macadamias, blanched almonds, walnuts and cashews are all healthy options. If you can eat dairy, you can add 2 to 4 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese or add a tablespoon or two of nutritional yeast for a similar effect. Apart from extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil or walnut oil work well too.

Is Wild Garlic low FODMAP?

Yes it is! The main reason foods like garlic and onions are problematic for IBS sufferers is that they contain fructans which can be difficult for their intestines to break down, causing painful gas and stomach cramps. Wild garlic tops (ramsons) are a suitable alternative for IBS sufferers and can be used to flavor meals just like garlic.

How to Use Pesto

Just like fresh herbs, using wild garlic in pesto is a great way to preserve its delicate flavour and add healthy fats to any keto recipe. I make pesto every couple of weeks as part of my meal prep routine. Apart using it to make pesto, chopped wild garlic leaves and stems are amazing in salads, omelettes and dips. I often use pesto to marinate raw and cooked meat and fish.

How Long Will Pesto Made at Home Last?

You can keep your pesto in the fridge for up to two weeks if it's stored properly. It helps to pour a thin layer of extra virgin olive oil on top, as it keeps it fresh for longer.

If you want to preserve homemade pesto for up to 6 months, freeze it in manageable portion sizes by putting it in an ice-cube tray and keep in a plastic bag in the freezer. Whenever you need to use it, just defrost the required portion, or add directly to a hot dish.

A word of caution: If you pick your own wild garlic rather than buying it in a grocery store, make sure you actually use wild garlicTrusted sourceWikipediaWikipedia is written collaboratively by largely anonymous volunteers who write without pay.Open link as it is sometimes confused with Arum Lily. The difference is that Arum Lily is poisonous! Luckily, they are easy to tell apart as the shape of the leaves is different and the unmistakeable scent of wild garlic is hard to miss.

Step-by-step

Wash the wild garlic.
Place the garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper into a food processor or a blender. Pulse until smooth for just a few seconds.
Add the pine nuts and sunflower seeds.
Pulse again until smooth or chunky (I like to keep mine a little chunky).
When done, use immediately or spoon the mixture in a glass jar, top with a bit of olive oil and seal with a lid. Refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

Recipe