Hemp Seed Pesto

Ingredients:

½ a cup of hemp seeds

1 tsp of minced garlic

1 cup of spinach (frozen is fine)

1 cup of fresh basil leaves

2 tbs lemon juice

1 tsp lemon rind

¼ cup of olive oil

1 tsp Dijon mustard

2 tbs water

What to do:

Pop it all in the food processor and blitz!

Serving ideas:

• Mixed through pasta! Make it creamy but adding a little milk or yogurt too and add some roasted cherry tomatoes for a pop of citrus
• Spread it on toast and add some avocado
• Sauce for veggies (great through roast potatoes too!)
• Add it to egg to make a pesto omelette
• Perfect for a savoury muffin recipe

Storage Instructions

Store the pesto in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. For longer storage, spoon it into an ice cube tray and freeze, then pop the cubes into a labelled bag for up to 3 months — perfect for stirring a single portion through pasta or veggies whenever you need it.

Nutrition Notes

Hemp seeds are a little nutrition powerhouse, offering plant protein, fibre, antioxidants and a lovely balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fats. With spinach for iron and folate and olive oil for healthy fats, this pesto is an easy way to add a nutrient boost to everyday meals.

Parent Tip

Freeze the pesto in cubes so you can add just one serve at a time — a fast way to lift the nutrition of plain pasta, eggs or roast veggies on busy days.

Frequently Asked Questions

From what age can I offer this hemp pesto?

It's smooth and easy to stir through food, so it suits babies from around 6 months mixed through pasta, spread on toast or stirred into veggies. It contains no common top-9 allergens, which makes it a gentle one to add early.

Does it contain any allergens?

This recipe doesn't contain any of the common top-9 allergens and is naturally dairy free. It does include a little Dijon mustard for flavour, so if your family avoids mustard you can simply leave it out.

How can I serve it for a baby?

Stir it through soft pasta with a little milk or yoghurt to make it creamy, spread it thinly on toast with avocado, or use it as a sauce for soft roast veggies.

Can I freeze it?

Absolutely. Freezing in ice cube trays is the easiest way to keep single-serve portions on hand for up to 3 months.