Basil Pesto Cream - PCOS-Friendly Recipe

Basil Pesto Cream
Prep: 14 min
Servings: 20
Lunch

This Basil Pesto Cream is a PCOS-friendly recipe with 15 calories, 2g protein, and 1g carbs per serving. Ready in 14 minutes.

Nutrition per Serving

15 Calories
2g Protein
1g Carbs
0.5g Fat
This flavorful dip is surprisingly healthy and low-fat. Use it as a dip or spread. It's great served over grilled or broiled fish too!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup fresh baby spinach
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon minced shallot (about 1 large)
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil
  • 1 cup nonfat cottage cheese
  • 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons skim milk

Instructions

  1. Place spinach, garlic, shallot, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and basil in food processor. Process to a paste.
  2. With motor running, add cottage cheese and oil. Process until smooth. Add milk to achieve the desired consistency, if desired.

How This Recipe Supports PCOS Management

Understanding the nutritional profile of what you eat is a powerful step in managing PCOS. Here is how the key ingredients in this Basil Pesto Cream contribute to your health goals:

  • Egg: Contain choline which supports liver function and hormone metabolism
  • Spinach: Magnesium may help improve insulin sensitivity in women with PCOS
  • Olive oil: Anti-inflammatory properties make it especially beneficial for PCOS
  • Garlic: May help reduce cholesterol levels often elevated in PCOS

PCOS Diet Principles in This Recipe

The PCOS diet focuses on three core principles: reducing inflammation, managing insulin resistance, and supporting hormonal balance. Every recipe in our collection is evaluated against these principles. This recipe excels in providing protein-rich ingredients that help regulate appetite hormones (ghrelin and leptin), and anti-inflammatory spices that target the chronic inflammation underlying PCOS. As part of a balanced PCOS meal plan, we recommend pairing recipes like this with a variety of nutrient-dense foods throughout the week to ensure you are meeting all your micronutrient needs.

Meal Prep Tip: This Basil Pesto Cream can be prepared ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Meal prepping is one of the most effective strategies for sticking to a PCOS-friendly diet, as it removes the temptation to reach for processed convenience foods when time is short.

PCOS-Friendly Foods in This Recipe

This recipe contains the following foods that may benefit PCOS management: Spinach, Basil.

Spinach is a nutrient-dense leafy green vegetable that is rich in vitamins A, C, and K, as well as iron, magnesium, and antioxidants. The high iron content in spinach helps combat anemia, which is common in women with PCOS. Magnesium helps reduce inflammation and improve insulin sensitivity. The antioxidants in spinach can help lower oxidative stress, which is beneficial for managing PCOS symptoms. Including spinach in your diet can support overall health and well-being. Basil is an excellent st...

You Have a Recipe. But Do You Have a Full Week?

One great recipe is a start. A complete PCOS meal plan is a system. Here is how to go from one meal to a full week of eating that supports your hormones.

1
Take the 60-Second Quiz Tell us your PCOS type, preferences, and goals
2
Get Your 7-Day Meal Plan Personalized meals, grocery list, and prep schedule
3
Stop Guessing Every Day Know exactly what to eat, with recipes like this one built in
Build My Meal Plan

Free. Personalized. No signup required to start.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, this Basil Pesto Cream recipe is designed to be PCOS-friendly. At 15 calories per serving with 2g of protein, it supports balanced blood sugar and hormonal health.

This recipe takes about 14 minutes total. Prep time is 14 minutes. It makes 20 servings, so you can meal prep for multiple days.

Per serving: 15 calories, 2g protein (53%), 1g carbs, 0.5g fat. PCOS meal plans typically aim for 30% protein, 35% fat, 35% carbs to support insulin sensitivity.

Yes, this recipe works well as a PCOS-friendly Lunch. At 15 calories, it fits within typical PCOS meal plan targets for Lunch. Pair it with other PCOS-friendly foods throughout the day for balanced nutrition.

This recipe can be part of a structured PCOS meal plan. It makes 20 servings, making it great for meal prep. For a complete weekly plan tailored to your PCOS type, take our free 60-second quiz at pcosmealplanner.com/pcos-quiz to get a personalized 7-day meal plan.

Comments

Register or log in to add a comment