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    Home » 30 Minute Meals » Pesto Potatoes

    Pesto Potatoes

    Published: Jul 9, 2019 · Modified: May 23, 2020 | This post may contain affiliate links·

    913 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Pesto Potatoes

    These pesto potatoes make for a hearty and flavorful side dish that packs in a ton of flavor from the pesto dressing. Made with fresh basil and pea pesto, this salad has no added mayo or cream, making this a healthier version of a classic potato salad. You won’t be on a guilt trip with this one!

    Pesto Potatoes

    Potato salads are quite the darling of summer potluck parties, you know you can’t go wrong with bringing over a hearty potato salad at your next potluck.

    Some of my favorite potato recipes are Potato Bacon Salad, and my super easy Air Fryer Baby potatoes, however, I do like to switch things up a bit with this recipe, which calls for a pesto dressing instead of a mayo or cream-based one. Why pass up an opportunity to make some fresh pesto in the summertime?

    Pesto Potatoes

    What you need to make these pesto potatoes:

    Basil and Pea Pesto: These potatoes are all about the pesto dressing, needless to say! Make a batch of fresh pesto with fresh basil leaves, pine nuts, parmesan cheese, good quality olive oil, garlic and lemon juice, and peas – the peas add a creaminess and mild sweetness to the pesto that rounds it off very well. You can make this a vegan pesto by subbing the parmesan cheese with vegan cheese. I like to leave some pine nuts for the garnish, and top it all off with some chopped up parsley.

    Baby Potatoes: Use baby potatoes of your preferred variety. I have used regular white baby potatoes, around 1.5 inches wide, as that is what I had access to, but you could use baby red potatoes as well.

    Customize these pesto potatoes with optional add-ins:

    These pesto potatoes are perfect as they are, but there’s no rule against adding some of your favorite add-ins to take this from a side dish to a meal itself! Here’s what you could add to the potatoes:

    Chopped up hard boiled eggs

    Chopped-up fried bacon

    Chopped up red onion

    Capers or chopped olives

    Pesto Potatoes

    For more summer recipes, take a look at:

    Potato Bacon Salad

    Grilled Chicken Tikka Drumsticks

    Instant Pot Lemon Berry Pudding

    Pesto Potatoes

    Pesto Potatoes

    Shinta
    These pesto potatoes make for a hearty and flavorful side dish which packs in a ton of flavor from the pesto dressing. Made with fresh basil and pea pesto, this salad has no added mayo or cream, making this a healthier version of a classic potato salad
    5 from 8 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer, Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 5
    Calories 256 kcal

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot
    • Steamer Basket

    Ingredients
      

    • 1.1 lbs (500 gram) baby potatoes skin-on, washed
    • For the basil-pea pesto:
    • 1 cup basil leaves
    • 3/4 cup peas if frozen, thaw before using
    • 4 garlic cloves
    • 1/3 cup pinenuts
    • Juice of half a lemon
    • ¼ cup Parmesan cheese grated
    • A pinch of salt
    • 3 tablespoons olive oil
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper freshly cracked

    Instructions
     

    Cooking potatoes in the Instant Pot:

    • Add 1.5 cups of water to the Instant Pot.
    • Add a steamer basket and place the potatoes in the steamer.
    • Close lid and turn the vent to ‘Sealing’ position. Pressure cook at 12 minutes and perform a quick release of pressure after the cooking time is completed.
    • Once the valve comes down, open the lid, and transfer the potatoes to a vessel with cold water to stop them from cooking further.

    Cooking potatoes on the stove top:

    • Put the potatoes in a pot and cover with water. Bring them to a boil and until the potatoes are cooked through (18-20 minutes).
    • Check for doneness with a fork
    • Drain the potatoes and transfer them to a vessel with cold water to stop them from cooking further.
    • While the potatoes are cooking, make the pesto

    For the pesto:

    • Add all the ingredients for the pesto, except the oil, into a blender and blitz until creamy. If you like a more textured and coarse pesto, just pulse the ingredients for a few second.
    • Add the oil and blitz again.

    To assemble and serve:

    • Combine the potatoes with the pesto, and mix until the potatoes are well coated with the pesto. Add some parsley and pine nuts to garnish.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 110gCalories: 256kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 7gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 85mgPotassium: 551mgFiber: 4gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 465IUVitamin C: 29.9mgCalcium: 86mgIron: 1.9mg
    Keyword bacon potato salad, instantpot potato salad, pesto potatoes
    Have you Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Tag me on Instagram! @carameltintedlife or use the hashtag #carameltintedlife

    Shop this recipe:

    « Bulgur Salad with a lemon-honey-mint dressing
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    913 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tisha says

      July 10, 2019 at 10:34 am

      5 stars
      Pesto potatoes sound like the perfect side dish!

    2. Natalie says

      July 10, 2019 at 6:53 am

      5 stars
      I love pesto! These potatoes look so delicious and would make a great side dish!

      • Shinta says

        July 12, 2019 at 11:20 pm

        5 stars
        thank you so much!

    3. SHANIKA says

      July 10, 2019 at 6:27 am

      5 stars
      Pesto on Veggies is such a great combo! These potatoes look amazing!

      • Shinta says

        July 12, 2019 at 11:19 pm

        5 stars
        thank you so much!

    4. Laura | Wandercooks says

      July 10, 2019 at 5:17 am

      5 stars
      Oh yum, love the idea of adding peas to the pesto mix, I've never thought to try that but sounds like it will give it that extra touch of sweetness - just perfect for those creamy potatoes!

      • Shinta says

        July 12, 2019 at 11:10 pm

        5 stars
        thank you, glad you liked it!

    5 from 8 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    Shinta Simon

    is always on the lookout for inspiration for her next meal. She shares recipes for family meals, Instant Pot recipes and more

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