Easy Runner Bean Pesto Recipe - Larder Love (2024)

Runner bean pesto is packed with flavour and super easy to make. It is one of my favourite ways to use runner beans and makes a freat topping for pasta, in sandwiches, as a dip and so much more.

Autumn; season of golds, reds, bronze, copper and all shades of brown from deepest chocolate to softest ochre gold. Nature gearing up to go out into winter with a blaze and also fading of colour.

There is no place for green. Oh yes there is! The last of my garden goodies, the runner beans. I just have to make some Runner Bean Pesto as it is one of my favourite recipes for runner beans.

Hey Pesto!

For a blast of bright green zingy freshness amidst the golds of autumn try this easy recipe for a light and tasty pesto that uses the end of season runners and gives them a new lease on life.

You see pesto shouldn’t just be thought of in terms of basil only. You can make a pesto sauce out of all sorts of herbs and veggies. This runner bean pesto will put those mushy jars of store bought pesto into the shade.

What is Pesto?

Pesto comes from the Italian word meaning to pound. Because pesto is traditionally made in a pestle and mortar and pounded into a paste. Traditional pesto is made with basil, Parmesan (or other Italian hard cheese), pine nuts, garlic and olive oil.

I have to admit I am slightly obsessed with pesto. In fact I even wrote a book about it

A Passion For Pesto

In it I share over 75 recipes for all types of pesto from herb pestos to veggie pestos. I make pesto from weeds and even sweet pesto made from fruits for desserts. Finally there are recipes for how to use your delicious homemade pestos.

Ingredients for runner bean pesto

Well obviously runner beans are involved in this tasty pesto instead of basil.

I used 200g/7 oz of runner beans. Instead of pine nuts I have used almonds. I love the flavour of almonds and use them in a lot of my recipes for pesto. Apart from tasting good they are a damn sight cheaper than pine nuts.

Other ingredients are Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, a couple of cloves of garlic and nice olive oil.

Finally, don’t forget the salt and pepper too of course.

How to make runner bean pesto

You will have to top and tail the beans and string them first if they are aged at all. This just means running a potato peeler down either side and removing a slither of skin and any stringiness that comes away. Then just chop up the beans as you like.

Pop them into a small pan and just cover with water and add a pinch of salt. Bring to boil and simmer for 5 minutes maximum. Then remove from heat and drain, running under cold water to keep their lovely bright green colour.

Allow to cool and then toss into your food processor along with 2 cloves of garlic, 4 tablespoons of toasted and chopped almonds, 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese and a good squeeze of lemon juice.

Whizz until smooth and add salt and pepper to taste and add enough olive oil to get the sort of consistency you like. I like my pesto firm enough to use on a crostini like a spread rather than a really runny saucy consistancy. The choice is yours.

Scoop the pesto into a sterilised jar and cover with more olive oil and a lid.

How to store pesto

Store in the fridge for up to a week. To keep it nice and green make sure that you top it up with a little olive oil each time you use it. This stops it oxidising on the top and going darker.

Can you freeze pesto?

Yes you can. But quite honestly it is better frozen without the cheese added. If you are making a lot of this runner bean pesto for freezing then simply freeze batches before adding the Parmesan cheese.

Remember to clearly label your freezer bags/containers and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can actually freeze this pesto in ice cube trays and once solid decant into a freezer bag.

How to serve pesto

Use your runner bean pesto on toasts, mixed into a plain pasta, spooned into a bowl of veggie soup, or as a condiment on the side of your plate with chicken salad or ham. A little pop of green goodness in contrast to all the browns and golds of autumn.

Looking for more fun and easy pesto recipes to try? Then check these out before you go;

Rosemary and walnut pesto

Strawberry and basil pesto

Apple celery and coriander pesto

Parsley and almond pesto

Carrot top pesto

Great British Pesto

Nasturtium Pesto

Nut Free Pesto

Finally, if you do try this recipe don’t forget to leave a comment/star rating below as I just love to hear from readers. Want more Larder Love? Then follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter and sign up for my newsletter too of course.