Carrot Greens Pesto Cold Pasta Salad Recipe | Vegan + GF

Looking for a delicious and healthy way to use up those carrot greens? Well, look no further than this amazing Carrot Greens Pesto Recipe! This pesto is perfect for using any leftover carrot tops, and it's super easy to make and enjoy either warm or in a cold pasta salad. Plus, it's loaded with healthy nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin C, and folate.

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We love making pestos as they are usually made in 5-minutes using just a few ingredients and a food processor. They can then be used immediately or stored to enhance any meal like pasta, or sandwiches, and even add a dollop to any sauce and take it to the next level.

The most used pesto are the basil pesto, sun-dried pesto, and arugula pesto, but the mint pesto and kale version our also favorites when it comes to salads and poke bowls.

How do you use carrot tops?

Pesto is a great way to add flavor to any dish, and this recipe is simple and quick to make. You can enjoy this great recipe on pizza, sweet potato, pasta dishes, add a dollop on your favorite side dish, and even pasta salads as we do with this recipe.

We love no-churn cooking and it is the perfect way to join the Environmental consciousness movement, reducing our food waste, especially as Earth day comes.

Use your pineapple peels to make pineapple water and your watermelon rinds to make gazpacho!

• Indulge in a creamy, delicious pasta salad that's perfect for any celebration.
• Enjoy the taste of fresh pesto with every bite.

Give this cold pasta salad recipe a try and see how you like it. We promise you won't be disappointed!

Ingredients

To make this carrot greens pesto you need almost the same ingredients you would use in traditional pesto recipe, changing the herbs for the carrot tops and the parmesan cheese for nutritional yeast to vegan parmesan cheese.

• Fresh organic carrots greens
• Nutritional yeast (or vegan parmesan cheese)
• Lemon juice
• Cashew nuts or pine nuts
• Garlic
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• Red chili flakes
• Gluten-free pasta

See quantities and full instructions in the recipe card.

How to make carrot top pesto

This vegan carrot top pesto takes only 10 minutes and requires you to follow very simple steps.

Cut the carrot tops

Remove the carrot greens about half-inch above the carrots.

Then blanch the carrot stems for 30 seconds in boiling water.

Continue to pad dry them with a clean table cloth. Then cut the tough stems roughly to blend better, and don't get stuck with the blades.

Blend

Add all the ingredients to an immersion blender or food processor.

Blend all the ingredients until the pesto reaches the desired consistency. You might have to stop the blades, scrape down the sides with a spatula, and then pulse.

Adjust the seasoning

If you want the carrot top pest to be more garlicky, add an extra garlic clove. Add more olive oil for a more liquid pesto. You can also fin tune the acidity by adding some extra lemon juice.

I prefer to add lemon juice little by little as it can affect drastically the end result, and then you need to start fine-tuning all the rest to counterbalance it.

Make that pasta salad

Boil the gluten-free pasta as per package directions, adding salt. Before straining the pasta on a colander, save some of the pasta water, which will be starchy, so when you add the pesto to your strained pasta.

Add water little by little to achieve the creamiest texture. I use about ¾ cup of starchy water.

Adjust with salt and pepper if needed.

Serving. You can enjoy this pasta warm immediately after cooking it or serve it cold as a salad. If serving as a cold summer salad, make sure to remove it from the fridge 15 minutes before serving, so it reaches room temperature.

Variations

I have added different leafy greens and basil to this recipe, and they work very well. Most of the time, I just use the carrot greens, as I think using more herbs just misses the point of using usually discarded products by adding more products of the same kind.

Also, carrots greens are super delicious and don't need additional help from other herbs, but you can always play around with this recipe.

Nuts - any kind of nuts work on carrot top recipes. Our favorite carrot top pairings are cashews, pine nuts, toasted pistachios, and hulled toasted almonds. Walnuts are a little milder, but if you toast them first they can enhance the pesto flavor.

Storing

Cold pasta salad

Make sure you store leftovers in an airtight container and not just on a plate in the fridge because pasta tends to take "fridge smells."

Before eating your pasta salad, please bring it to room temperature, as cold salad tends to reacquire more salt and pepper, which is unnecessary sodium in your dish.

You can store this carrot top pesto pasta for up to a week in the fridge.

Carrot top pesto leftovers

Store your leftover pesto in a closed container with a lid. Add extra olive oil to ensure the surface is covered. This will help prevent mold from forming on the surface.

You can store the carrot greens pesto for up to a week in the fridge.

FAQ

Can you do anything with the tops of carrots?

Yes! You can add chopped carrot greens into your salads and also sauté them in a skillet. If you love creative ways to reuse your meals' leftovers you will love our post on the topic.

We love zero-waste meals and making the best out of veggie products, as we do on our Watermelon Rind Gazpacho soup, a great and refreshing summery cold beverage.

Are carrot tops edible raw?

Yes, they are. In fact, this carrot top pesto can be made without blanching the carrot greens. I just like the texture better when they have been slightly cooked.

I even use the thick stems, as I find that they add a delicious peppery flavor to this wonderful recipe.

Are carrot tops nutritious?

Yes, everything on this root vegetable is edible and nutritious. Carrot leaves are rich in vitamins A, C, K, and iron. They're also high in fiber which is good for digestive health and absorption of nutrients.

Can you eat or juice carrot tops?

Yes, you eat carrot tops and also juice them as you would juice other leafy greens. You can enjoy the benefits of carrots and their tops in juices or in savory meals like our carrot and ginger soup, one of our carrots' favorite recipes.

How long do carrot leaves last?

If you buy carrots in your farmers' market, they are likely to be fresh and thus more nutritious but also last less.

That's why I usually make the carrot top pesto when I come back from the market, to make sure the carrot leaves don't wilt. Then I use it on my salads or pasta as I would do with any traditional pesto.

You can extend their life, by submerging carrot greens in cold water and keeping them in the fridge until you use them.

More pesto recipes

We are fans of this carrot top pesto and all kinds of pesto recipes, and we have plenty of recipes on this site.

We are based in Italy, so it is quite common not only to consume it but to make your own at home.

Pestos take minutes to create and deliver many flavors and are super versatile. You can add them to many recipes and even elevate your regular pizza or marinara sauce, just adding a dollop of basil pesto as it cooks.

If you are like us and like experimenting, you will surely love our peppery arugula pesto, the kale and sage pesto, and the more playful mint pesto.

We also like using the dried tomato pesto for an easy, quick dinner or as a base for tomato and vegan ricotta filling for ravioli.

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don't forget to tag a photo #ourplantbasedworld on Instagram. Cheers!

Recipe

Food safety

We sometimes take for granted that we have years (or decades) of cooking experience that the average visitor may not. Add to, or remove from, the list below with health and safety tips.

• Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
• Do not use the same utensils on cooked food that previously touched raw meat
• Wash hands after touching raw meat
• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
• Never leave cooking food unattended
• Use oils with high smoking points to avoid harmful compounds
• Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice. See our full Nutritional Disclosure here.

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