When I think of pesto, I tend to think green. But technically a pesto is really just a paste. Or at least a series of ingredients that has been broken down into a paste. So this container didn't exactly jump out at me at first.
Taste
And normally I take a lot more pictures.
But let's be honest, there are some foods that just don't photograph well. Most recently, the Chocolate Gnocchi comes to mind.
While this isn't nearly as terrible to photograph, it did remind me mildly of my son's dirty diapers: sort of a brownish color with a seedy texture.
So now that I've completely ruined your appetite, I'm happy to tell you that the taste here did not match the visuals.
As terrible and unappealing as this product is to look at, it is pretty good in terms of taste.
It's nutty and cheesy at the same time. And it tastes quite salty as well. It's not your typical pesto. It's basically a mix of nuts, oil, and cheese. No greens here.
But it is quite good spread on a sandwich which is how I enjoyed it. I imagine it would be good on pasta as well.
Normally I complain about serving sizes. Usually, I complain they are far too small. Here you would need to consume a quarter cup. And that quarter cup is calorie heavy at 370 per serving. Spread on a sandwich you can expect probably half those calories. But if you are having pasta, I can't say the same is going to be true. But if you are looking to cut back, then reserve some pasta water to thin this down.
Overall
Despite its terrible appearance, this is pretty good with the biggest drawback being the salty taste.
For $3.79 it's not a bad item to pick up, especially if you are getting tired of Trader Joe's Kale Cashew and Basil Pesto or just want a change. But just be aware this isn't vegan.
Would I buy this again? Yes, I would buy Trader Joe's Walnut Pesto again. It was different and quite tasty.
Did you try it? Let me know what you think in the comments section!
Product Photos
The container, the nutritional information, the ingredients
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The Bottom Line
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Trader Joe's Walnut Pesto
Product Name: Trader Joe's Walnut Pesto
Product Description: Trader Joe's Walnut Pesto is a cheesy pesto minus the greens.
Price: $3.79
Summary
Trader Joe's Walnut Pesto is a pesto without the greens.
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Taste
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Value
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Worthy of Repurchasing
Pros
- Trader Joe's Walnut Pesto is different from most other pestos on shelves
- Stronger cheese flavor than walnut flavor.
Cons
- Some might find this product too salty in taste
Alek says
Lol on your metaphor comparing it to your son's dirty diapers.
It would make a good pasta sauce. I can see this being used as a salad dressing. It's nice offering to change up from standard basil pesto.
Colleen says
thinking of blending this with alfredo sauce to pair with pasta. Do you think this would work?
becomebetty says
I think it might work. Just remember this tastes a lot like a nut butter once it gets warm. So it might work or it might not.
Christina Zsoldos says
Love this stuff! Had it last fall but have not been able to get it again.