Poultry Herb Pesto Recipe (Can it Pesto? Series)

This is the second installment in my Can It Pesto? series, where I take ingredients that are very much not basil and see whether they can, in fact, pesto. This time, I’m working with a classic poultry herb blend — the kind you usually associate with roast chicken, stuffing, or Thanksgiving — and turning it into a sauce. The question is: does Poultry Herb Pesto work, or should poultry herbs stay firmly in their comfort zone?

If arugula pesto is bright, peppery, and creamy, poultry herb pesto is its darker, earthier, slightly more intense cousin. The two couldn’t be more opposite. Because herbs like sage and rosemary are tougher than arugula, this pesto needs plenty of olive oil and cheese to achieve a soft, not-gritty texture. Here’s how to make it:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sage leaves, loosely packed
• 3/4 cup rosemary leaves
• 1/4 cup thyme leaves
• 1/2 cup walnuts
• pinch of nutmeg
• 1 cup parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 cup olive oil
• salt & pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Add the herbs, walnuts, and nutmeg to a large food processor and process until well combined.
2. Add the Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper, then process again for about 30 seconds.
3. With the food processor running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil through the feed tube.
4. Taste. If a smoother texture is desired, add olive oil one tablespoon at a time, processing between additions, until the pesto reaches your preferred consistency.
5. Use as a spread for sandwiches, as a sauce for stuffed pasta, or as a marinade for poultry — and enjoy.

Poultry Herb Pesto isn’t subtle, and it’s not trying to be. It’s rich, savory, and deeply aromatic — the kind of sauce that feels right when you want something cozy and a little indulgent. I’ll absolutely be making this one again, especially as a marinade for chicken thighs, but it would also be good on sandwiches or tossed with tortellini. And next up in the Can It Pesto? series, I’m testing an ingredient that’s not an herb or a leafy green at all. So… can Poultry Herbs Pesto? If you’re into texture and savory flavors – yes, it can.