Vegan Basil Pesto without Pinenuts

Fresh Basil Pesto is the easiest way to add tons of flavors to any dish. This homemade pesto recipe takes just 5 minutes to prepare and is made without any pinenuts. It’s still creamy, flavorful, and delicious!

Homemade Pesto Sauce recipe without Pinenuts

I learned this recipe for Fresh Basil Pesto with almonds from my sister-in-law a couple of years ago. Her pesto sauce tasted unique and delicious with fresh ingredients and it had no pine nuts.

Pinenuts as such are an expensive ingredient and it was fantastic to learn this classic spin on a pesto recipe without it.

The key to making a fantastic pesto sauce is using fresh ingredients. You will also love this 5 minutes Coriander Pesto sauce recipe.

Why you’ll love this recipe?

Instant Pesto sauce recipe comes together in a breeze.

A handful of ingredients to make fresh flavorful pesto sauce.

Dietary needs – Vegan, Vegetarian, Dairy-free, and Gluten-free

Easy to substitute ingredients in this recipe.

Basil Pesto Ingredients

Basil – Use fresh Basil in the recipe. Look for bright green leaves to use in the pesto recipes. Basil herb grows well on my window sill through 8 months. If you like you can also use a handful of fresh spinach leaves.

Nuts – I like to use Almonds in my Pesto sauce. You can swap Almonds for any nuts like Cashew nuts and even Walnuts. Changing up the nuts does not make a drastic taste-changing difference in pesto.

Garlic – Roasted garlic vs Raw Garlic – Either of them works. However roasted Garlic adds more flavor to the recipe.

Lemon – Citrus adds the zing to the pesto sauce and balances the flavors well.

Cheese or Nutritional Yeast  – I like to add Vegetarian Parmesan Cheese or Nutritional Yeast for creaminess.

Green Olives – Adding a handful of pitted green olives adds tons of flavors to the pesto. This secret ingredient adds oomph to the pesto.

Olive Oil – Use good quality extra virgin oil for fresh pesto.

Salt to taste.

How to make Homemade fresh basil pesto without pine nuts?

Add the ingredients to a blender or food processor. Process until smooth and creamy. Add 3 – 5 tablespoons of cold water to adjust the consistency of the pesto sauce.

Taste and adjust the seasoning. Enjoy the Instant Pesto for your pasta, pizza, or even with grilled meat or fish.

Serving Suggestions

With Pasta – Stir into your Pasta Salad or to make a creamy pesto pasta.

On your Pizza

In your Buddha Bowls

Storage

Fridge – Drizzle a little extra olive oil and store in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Freezer – Transfer the pesto sauce to the ice cube tray and allow them to set in the freezer. Then transfer them to freezer-safe bags and enjoy them as needed in your recipes.

What can you use for the Pine nuts in the Pesto recipe?

You can use almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, or even cashew nuts as a perfect pine nuts replacement in a pesto sauce recipe.

If you love this recipe, you will also love

Coriander pesto sauce

Vegan Burger Sauce

Pineapple Sweet Chilli Sauce

Easy Fresh Basil Pesto recipe below

Easy Vegan Basil Pesto without Pinenuts

5 from 7 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 3

Calories: 270kcal

Author: Sandhya Hariharan

THIS INSTANT FRESH BASIL PESTO SAUCE is bursting with herby flavors. {Vegan, GF & Keto Friendly}

Ingredients

• 1 Large Bunch Basil Leaves approx 2 cups
• 3 Cloves Garlic
• 3 Tbsp  Almonds
• 10  Green Olives Optional
• 4 tbsp Olive Oil
• 4 tbsp Nutritional Yeast Vegetarian Parmesan Cheese
• ½ Lemon Juice
• 3-5 tbsp water
• Salt as needed

Instructions

• Place all the ingredients in the blender and pulse a couple of times until a smooth silken sauce is achieved.
• Add Olive Oil and pulse again. If the sauce is too thick, add a few tablespoons of water.
• Serve with Pasta Salad or Pizza or even in your puff pastry.

Notes

This Pesto Sauce is best enjoyed the same day. Store an airtight jar for up to 3 days in the fridge.

Optional Vegetables to include – Use a combination of French Beans and Baby Potatoes for this pesto pasta.

 

Nutrition

Calories: 270kcal | Carbohydrates: 10.1g | Protein: 8.1g | Fat: 23.8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 369mg | Potassium: 423mg | Fiber: 5.8g | Sugar: 0.3g | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 3mg

Course: Condiment, Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: basil pesto without pine nuts, pesto for pasta, vegan basil pesto

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