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Get the recipe: Cooking with Kids - Spinach Basil Pesto

5 stars (3 ratings)
This easy Spinach Basil Pesto is a great way to start cooking with kids. It's a super fast and easy recipe that they can do mostly by themselves!

Ingredients 

  • 1 cup basil stems removed
  • 1 cup spinach stems removed
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, finely grated
  • 1/4 cup slivered almonds, see notes
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 lemon, juiced
  • 1/2 cup olive oil divided
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions 

  • Place all of the ingredints as well as 1/4 cup olive oil into the food processor.
  • Turn the machine on and let it run for 1 minute.
  • Scrape down the sides. Add the additoinal 1/2 cup of olive oil if the pesto is still really thick and dry. I almost alwasys add in the extra amount.
  • Turn the machine on and let it run for another minute.
  • Spoon the pesto into an air-tighet conatiner and store in the fridge or freezer.

Notes

Note on Nuts: you can use slivered almonds, cashews, pistachios, pine nuts, hemp seeds in this recipes. We have made them with all of these nuts and seeds and have loved them all. 
Yield: roughly 2 cups of pesto

Cooking with Kids for All Ages

Beginners: you can have all of the ingredients pre-measured and ready for them to dump into the food processor. Make sure to supervise them around the food processor blade. They can turn the food processor on and also help scrape down the sides. Have them follow along with the pictures down below for step-by-step instructions.
Intermediate: you can get all of the ingredients out but have them measure and pour everything into the food processor. They can scrape down the sides of the machine as well as help clean up. Make sure to still supervise them around the sharp food processor blade. Have them follow along with the pictures down below for step-by-step instructions.
Advanced: you can have them get all of the ingredients out, measure everything, process the pesto before putting the ingredients back where the come from and cleaning up. I would still recommend some supervision around the blade of the food processor.
 

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