Mint Pea Pesto

Bright, fresh, and packed with spring flavor, this easy mint pea pesto recipe is a vibrant twist on classic pesto—perfect for pasta, crostini, veggies, and more.

A Healthy Alternative to Traditional Basil Pesto

Looking for a fresh pesto recipe that’s light, flavorful, and packed with spring flavor? This mint pea pesto is your new kitchen essential. It’s the perfect green sauce for pasta, crostini, vegetables and more—ready in minutes and bursting with bright flavor.

Whether you're searching for a healthy pesto alternative or just want to mix up your usual basil pesto, this easy pea pesto has you covered.  It’s kid-friendly, versatile, and a fantastic way to add a little extra green to your meals.  Whether you’re tossing it with pasta, spreading it on crostini, or dolloping it over grilled vegetables, this pesto brings a welcome change to your kitchen lineup.

What Is Mint Pea Pesto?

Pea pesto is a spin on traditional pesto that swaps out the basil and pine nuts for green peas and fresh mint. This gives the sauce a naturally sweet and brighter flavor profile.

Unlike regular basil pesto, which can be oily, mint pea pesto is light and perfect for spring and summer recipes. It’s also a great way to use frozen peas, making it accessible year-round.

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Ingredients for Mint Pea Pesto

Here’s what you’ll need to make your own homemade mint pea pesto:

• Green Peas: Frozen petite peas add natural sweetness and creamy texture.
• Fresh Herbs: Fresh mint and parsley pair beautifully with peas and lemon.
• Cheese: Pecorino cheese adds saltiness and creaminess to balance the flavors.
• Lemon: Both lemon juice and zest brighten and sharpen the overall flavor.
• Garlic: Provides depth and a little kick.
• Olive Oil: Adds richness and creates a cohesive sauce.

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How to Make Mint Pea Pesto

Making this easy mint pesto takes just a few steps:

1. Blanch the peas: Cook the peas in boiling salted water for 1–2 minutes, then plunge into an ice bath to cool.
2. Add ingredients to food processor: Place the peas, mint, parsley, Pecorino, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest and salt into a small food processor.
3. Pulse to blend: Pulse until everything is coarsely chopped.
4. Slowly add olive oil: With the machine running, drizzle in olive oil until the pesto is creamy.

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Pea Pesto Variations

This recipe is incredibly flexible. Here are some tasty variations to try:

• Vegan Mint Pesto: Skip the cheese or use vegan parmesan.
• Creamy Mint Pesto: Add a spoonful of full-fat yogurt (regular or dairy-free) for extra richness.
• Dill Pea Pesto: Swap out the parsley for dill and the garlic for scallions.

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How to Use Mint Pea Pesto

This versatile mint pea pesto sauce adds a fresh kick to all kinds of dishes. Here are a few delicious ways to use it:

• Pasta: Toss with penne, fusilli, or the pasta of your choice for a simple weeknight meal.
• Toast or Crostini: Spread on toasted bread for an easy appetizer.
• Grilled or Sautéed Vegetables: Drizzle over vegetables for a fresh finish.
• Salads: Add some white wine vinegar and transform the sauce into a fresh and flavorful dressing for your favorite salads.
• Dip or spread: Serve with chips, raw veggies, or your favorite crackers.
• In a sandwich: Spread on bread and top with your favorite sandwich ingredients. 

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Why You Need to Try This Mint Pea Pesto

This mint pea pesto recipe is light, easy to make, and packed with flavor that sings of springtime.

Use it to elevate your weekday meals or serve it as part of a spread for a party. It stores well in the fridge so there’s really no reason not to have a batch on hand.

Ready to add some mint pea pesto to your meals? You’re just minutes away!

More Recipes with Peas:

• Minted Peas
• Spring Pea Salad
• Pasta With Peas