Name: Potatoes with Pesto
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups tightly packed fresh basil leaves; 1 clove garlic, minced; 1 15 ounce can navy/cannelloni beans (1.5 cups); rinsed and drained; 1/4 cup water; 1/4 cup nutritional yeast; 2 lemons juiced; 1 teaspoon sea salt; 3 large baking potatoes, skin left on, cleaned and cut into large bite-sized pieces; Vegan Parmesan Cheese (optional)

I love potatoes! In fact, I’ve never eaten a potato recipe I didn’t like. But, all potatoes are not created equal. And, although I love french fries, and all potatoes, I learned quickly how to make potatoes healthy and delicious. So, I combined my oil-free pesto recipe and potatoes to make potatoes with pesto! Let’s just say this potato with pesto recipe is now on the top of my favorite potato recipe list!

Whenever I think about making a new potato recipe, I always think about flavor first. In my opinion, raw potatoes are like little sponges. If par-boiled before they are baked or air-fried, they absorb any marinade and spices.

WHAT IS IN OIL-FREE, NUT-FREE PESTO?

Of course, fresh basil is essential in a pesto sauce, but in this oil-free pesto recipe, the beans provide the creaminess. The nutritional yeast, for example, provides the cheesiness.

Fresh basil leaves. The more the merrier.
Garlic
Navy or cannellini beans
Water
Nutritional yeast
Lemons
Sea salt

Then, it is just a matter of using a high-speed blender to blend all the ingredients together. As a matter of fact, making vegan pesto sauce takes 5 minutes from start to finish.

Place all ingredients in a high-speed blender.
Blend until smooth
Pour the pesto over the hot pasta
Then, serve in bowls and add sauteed vegetables
Add basil as a garnish
Sprinkle with vegan parmesan (optional)

WHAT OTHER INGREDIENTS ARE NEEDED FOR POTATOES WITH PESTO?

Of course, you need potatoes. For this potato with pesto recipe, I chose 3 large baking potatoes with the skin on. First, I scrubbed the potatoes to make sure to remove any excess debris. Then, I cut the potatoes in half lengthwise, and cut into equal-sized bite-sized pieces.

In order to ensure equal cooking, it is important to cut the potatoes into the same sized pieces. Also, I love my Vegan Parmesan Cheese on top of the potatoes when I served them, but this of course is optional.

Another idea is to add fresh chopped basil when serving these delcious potatoes with pesto.

MARINATING AND COOKING POTATOES WITH PESTO

Since I want the potatoes in soak up the flavors of the potatoes, I first parboil the potato pieces for 5-7 minutes on high depending on the size of the pieces of potatoes. Once cooked, drain the parboiled potatoes in a colander and allow them to cool to the touch. Then, I add the oil-free pesto and stir.

Then, I allow the potatoes to marinate in the pesto for at least 4 hours (I marinated overnight).

BAKING INSTRUCTIONS

Once marinated, the potatoes will absorb a lot of the pesto sauce, but there will be excess on the bottom of the bowl or plastic bag you marinate it. For that reason, pour the excess pesto into a separate container and set aside. If you pour all the contents and excess marinade on the pan, the excess marinade will burn on the pan.

To avoid this, remove the excess marinade, and we will use it after the potatoes cook.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees
Cook for 30 minutes
Removed from the oven and transfer to a bowl, and toss in the remaining pesto
Sprinkle with Vegan Parmesan Cheese (optional)

AIR-FRYING INSTRUCTIONS

Follow the same suggestions by removing the excess marinade. Another suggestion is to cook in single layer batches, as foods air-fry better when cooked in a single layer.

Set the air-fryer at 400 degrees
Air-fry each single layer batch for 15 minutes
Toss in excess marinade
Serve with Vegan Parmesan Cheese (optional)

So, when you are looking for a new way to cook and dress your potatoes, consider potatoes with pesto.

POTATO LOVERS CHECK OUT MY FAVORITE POTATO RECIPES BELOW

4 SERVINGS