Heart-Healthy Pesto Vinaigrette
Elevate your salads and dishes with this vibrant Heart-Healthy Pesto Vinaigrette, a flavorful twist on classic pesto made lighter and packed with nutrients. This quick and easy recipe blends fresh basil and baby spinach with heart-smart ingredients like raw unsalted walnuts, extra-virgin olive oil, and a tangy mix of lemon juice and red wine vinegar. With just 10 minutes of prep and no cooking required, this vinaigrette comes together in a snap, delivering a creamy, zesty finish that’s perfect for tossing into salads, drizzling over grilled vegetables, or marinating your favorite proteins. Low in sodium, packed with healthy fats, and bursting with fresh flavors, this wholesome dressing is a delicious way to prioritize heart health without compromising on taste.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 cup Fresh basil leaves
- 0.5 cup Baby spinach leaves
- 0.25 cup Raw unsalted walnuts
- 1 clove Garlic
- 0.25 cup Extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon Red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 0.25 teaspoon Salt
- 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper
- 2 tablespoons Water
Instructions
Start by gathering all the ingredients to ensure you have everything at hand.
In a food processor or blender, add the fresh basil leaves, baby spinach leaves, and raw unsalted walnuts.
Peel the garlic clove and add it to the processor with the other ingredients.
Pulse a few times until the ingredients are coarsely combined.
Next, slowly add the extra-virgin olive oil while blending on low speed to start forming an emulsion.
Add the fresh lemon juice, red wine vinegar, and Dijon mustard to the mixture.
Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
Add the water to thin out the dressing to your desired consistency and blend until smooth. You can adjust the amount of water depending on how thick or thin you prefer your vinaigrette.
Taste the vinaigrette and adjust the seasoning if necessary, maybe adding a bit more lemon juice or vinegar if you like a tangier taste.
Transfer the pesto vinaigrette to a sealed container or jar for storage. This vinaigrette will keep in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Shake well before serving. Enjoy over salads, as a marinade for proteins, or drizzled over grilled vegetables for a deliciously heart-healthy touch.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
759 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 80.8 g | 104% | |
| Saturated Fat | 9.7 g | 48% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 717 mg | 31% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 8.3 g | 3% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 3.2 g | 11% | |
| Total Sugars | 1.8 g | ||
| Protein | 6.3 g | 13% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 68 mg | 5% | |
| Iron | 2.2 mg | 12% | |
| Potassium | 306 mg | 7% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
