Mint Pea Pesto

🥗 Mint Pea Pesto (Pea Pesto Recipe)

Bright, fresh, and naturally sweet, this mint pea pesto is a vibrant twist on the classic. Sweet peas and fresh mint create a creamy, flavorful spread that’s perfect on pasta, toast, sandwiches, or roasted vegetables. Quick, simple, and naturally healthy, this pea pesto recipe is a must for spring, and one you’ll want to make again and again.

❓ What Is Pea Pesto?

Pea pesto is a fresh, vibrant twist on traditional pesto made with sweet peas instead of basil. Like classic pesto, it’s blended with olive oil, cheese, herbs, (and sometimes nuts), resulting in a creamy, flavorful sauce or spread.

What makes pea pesto special:

• Bright and fresh: Peas bring natural sweetness and a vivid green color
• Versatile: Use it on pasta, toast, sandwiches, roasted veggies, or as a dip
• Easy & healthy: Naturally light and full of spring flavor, especially when paired with fresh herbs like mint or parsley
• Customizable: Add cheese, nuts, or a squeeze of lemon to suit your taste

Whether you’re looking for a lighter alternative to traditional pesto or a way to use peas, mint pea pesto is a simple, flavorful, addition to your spring menu.

🌿 Why You’ll Love This Pea Pesto

• Works beautifully with pasta, toast, sandwiches, or roasted veggies
• Sweet peas + mint for a bright, fresh flavor
• Quick and simple—ready in about 10 minutes
• Naturally healthy and light
• Versatile: use as a sauce, spread, or dip

For more ideas featuring fresh spring produce like peas and herbs, explore my roundup of spring produce recipes.

🛒 Ingredients for Pesto with Peas

Here’s what you’ll need to make your own homemade 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.

👩‍🍳 How to Make Mint Pea Pesto

Making this easy pea 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.
5. Serve or store: Use immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge until needed (up to 3 days).

✨ Tips for the Best Pea Pesto

• Frozen peas are ideal—they’re sweet and picked at peak freshness
• Pulse lightly for a slightly chunky texture or longer for smooth creaminess
• Add a splash of water if the pesto is too thick
• Top with extra Pecorino or nuts when serving for more flavor

❓ Mint Pea Pesto FAQs

Can I use frozen peas for pea pesto?
Yes! Frozen peas are perfect—they’re sweet and convenient.

How long does pea pesto keep?
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Freeze for longer storage.

Can I make pea pesto vegan?
Absolutely! Skip the Pecorino and optionally add nutritional yeast for cheesy flavor.

What can I use pea pesto on?
It’s versatile: toss with pasta, spread on toast, use as a sandwich condiment, or dollop over roasted veggies.

🌟 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 simply make your toast or sandwiches a little fancier. It stores well in the fridge so there’s really no reason not to have a batch on hand.

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