Can you substitute pumpkin seeds for pine nuts in pesto?

Yes, you can substitute pumpkin seeds for pine nuts in pesto. Pine nuts are a traditional ingredient in pesto, but they can be expensive and sometimes hard to find. Pumpkin seeds, on the other hand, are more readily available and affordable.

How do you make pesto with pumpkin seeds instead of pine nuts?

To make pesto with pumpkin seeds, simply replace the pine nuts with an equal amount of pumpkin seeds in your favorite pesto recipe. You may need to adjust the amount of salt and garlic to suit your taste since the flavor of pumpkin seeds is different from pine nuts.

Are pumpkin seeds pine nuts?

No, pumpkin seeds are not pine nuts . They come from different types of plants and have distinct flavor profiles and nutritional profiles. While both pumpkin seeds and pine nuts are nutritious and versatile ingredients, they have different flavor profiles and are not interchangeable in recipes that specifically call for one or the other.

Roasted Pumpkin Seed Pesto Recipe (with Pumpkin Seed Oil)

Ingredients

Scale

150 g pumpkin seeds
80–90 g pumpkin seed oil
4 small pinches of finely ground sea salt or to taste
Optional: minced garlic

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Instructions

Roast the pumpkin seeds for 6-8 minutes at 180°C/350°F.
Let them cool.
Transfer the seeds to a blender or to a food processor and first ground them semi-finely, take away 3-4 tablespoons of it to a jar, and then ground the rest again finely.
Transfer the ground seeds into a jar, salt to taste and pour in pumpkin seed oil to get nicely spreadable consistency.
Enjoy freshly made or keep in the fridge.

Notes

To make larger quantities, scale accordingly

Author: Natasha Krajnc
Cook Time: 8 mins